SF 

951 
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1917 




Glass 
Book 



MANUAL 

FOR 

STABLE SERGEANTS 

V 

1917 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1917 






War Department, 

Document No. 611. 

0//?c« o/ The Adjutant General. 

D. of D. 
DEC 3 1917 



5 



WAR DEPARTMENT, 

Washington, June 14, 1917. 
The following Manual for Stable Sergeants, prepared at the 
Mounted Service School, Fort Riley, Kans., is published for the 
information and guidance of all concerned. 

[2046213 A. G. 0.1 

By order op the Secretary op War: 

TASKER H. BLISS, 

Major General, Acting Chief of Staff . 
Official : 

II. P. McCAIN, 

The Adjutant General. 



AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. 



Adams: A Text Book of Horseshoeing. 

Bureau of Animal Industry: Special Report on Diseases of the 
Horse. 

Chauveau: Comparative Anatomy of Domesticated Animals. 

Dun: Veterinary Medicines, Their Actions and Uses. 

Fitzwygram: Horses and Stables. 

Flemming: Operative Veterinary Surgery. 

Friedburger and Frohner: Pathology and Therapeutics of Domestic 
Animals. 

Gay: Productive Horse Husbandry. 

Goubaux and Barrier: The Exterior of the Horse. 

Hayes: Points of the Horse. 

Hayes: Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners. 

Henry: Feeds and Feeding. 

Hutyra and Marek: Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases of 
Domestic Animals. 

Jordan: The Feeding of Animals. 

Law: Veterinary Medicine. 

Liautard: Manual of Veterinary Surgery. 

Moller: Operative Veterinary Surgery. 

Merillat: Veterinary Surgical Operations. 

Neumann: Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Domesticated Ani- 
mals. 

Quitman: Notes on Veterinary Materia Medica. 

Sisson: A Text Book on Veterinary Anatomy. 

Smith: Veterinary Hygiene. 

Smith: A Manual of Veterinary Physiology. 

Strangeway: Veterinary Anatomy. 

Veterinary Department, English Army: Animal Management. 

White: Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine. 

Williams: Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine and 
Surgery. 

Winslow: Materia Medica. 

Woodhull: Military Hygiene. 

Wyman: Diagnosis of Lameness in the Horse. 

5 



CONTENTS 



Chapter I. Anatomy and physiology 11 

II. Names and conformation of external regions 51 

III. Stable hygiene — Care of the sick and injured 56 

IV. Restraint and control of animals 72 

V. Administration, actions and uses of medicines 80 

VI. Wounds and their treatment 95 

VII. Detection of lameness — Diseases of bone 107 

VIII. Diseases and injuries of muscles, tendons, and 

ligaments 114 

IX. Diseases of the digestive system 117 

X. Diseases of the respiratory system 125 

XI. Diseases of the urogenital system 130 

XII . Diseases of the circulatory and lymphatic system . 133 

. XIII. Diseases of the nervous system 137 

XIV. Diseases of the eye 140 

XV. Diseases of the skin 143 

XVI. Diseases of the foot 149 

XVII. Isolation, quarantine, and disinfection 157 

. XVIII. Contagious and infectious diseases 164 

7 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Figure 1. Skeleton of horse 12 

2. Skull of horse 13 

3. Superficial muscles of horse 18 

4. Deeper muscles of" horse a 19 

5. Muscles of fore limb , outside view 20 

6. Muscles of fore limb, inside view 21 

7. Muscles of hind leg 23 

8. Synovial sheaths and bursae of right fore limb, 

inside view 24 

9. Synovial sheaths and bursae of the right fore limb, 

outside view 24 

10. Synovial sheaths and bursae of hock, inside view.. 24 

11. Synovial sheaths and bursae of hock, outside view. . 24 

12. Digestive apparatus 25 

13. Stomach 26 

14. Respiratory apparatus , 29 

15. Circulatory apparatus 32 

16. Section of heart 33 

17. Nervous system : . . . 37 

18. Section of eye 38 

19. Section of foot 41 

20. Bonesoffoot 43 

21. Third phalanx 44 

22. Foot, side view 44 

23. Foot, ground surface 45 

24. Foot, relation of bones and joints 46 

25. Hoof, ground surface 48 

26. Foot, showing blood vessels 50 

27. External regions of the horse 52 

28. Twitch 72 

29. Blindfold 73 

30. Neck cradle 73 

31. Siderod 74 

32. Securing a hind leg forward by side line 75 

9 



10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

Figure 33. Securing a hind leg forward by side line 76 

34. Securing a hind leg backward by side line 76 

35. Securing the fore and hind limbs in standing posi- 

tion 77 

36. Casting rope applied 78 

37. The horse in slings 79 

38. Capped hock : 103 

39. Fistulous withers 104 

40. Poll evil 105 

41. Ringbone 108 

42. Sidebone 109 

43. Spavin 110 

44. Splint Ill 

45. Sprained tendons 114 

46. Curb 115 

47. Spasmodic colic 120 

48. Acute lymphangitis 134 

49. Grease 145 

50. Contagious stomatitis 165 

51. Contagious stomatitis 166 

52. Glanders 168 

53. Chronic epizootic lymphangitis 169 

54. Chronic epizootic lymphangitis 170 

55. Tetanus 172 

56. Surra...... 174 

57. Trypanosoma evansi 175 

58. Purpura hemorrhagica 176 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS 



CHAPTER I. 
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 

1. Anatomy is the study of the parts and organs of the animal 
body with regard to their structure, shape, and position. 

Physiology is a description of the functions or uses of these parts. 

Anatomy embraces the study of the skeleton, the articulations, 
the muscles, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the uro- 
genital system, the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, the 
nervous system, the eye, the ear, the skin. 

The Skeleton. 

2. The skeleton is the framework of hard structures of the body 
which supports the soft parts and vital organs. In the horse it con- 
sists of 205 bones, all of which are held together by means of ligaments 
and muscles in such a manner as to form a series of joints, levers, 
and pulleys. It is divided into trunk and limbs. 

The trunk consists of the skull, spinal column, ribs, and breast bone. 
The limbs, two anterior and two posterior, support the body and 
furnish the levers of propulsion. 

3. Bones are classified as long, flat, short, and irregular. 

Long bones are found in the limbs, where they support the weight 
of the body and act as levers of motion. 

Flat bones help inclose cavities containing vital and important 
organs. In this manner the ribs and scapula protect the heart and 
lungs. 

Short bones occur in the knee and hock and in the fetlock joints. 
Their function is that of breaking concussion. 

Irregular bones are such as those of the spinal column and certain 
bones of the cranium. The bones of the cranium inclose and pro- 

11 



12 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



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Fig. 1.— Skeleton of horse, with outline of contour of body. I.H., Atlas; 7.H. 
seventh cervical vertebra; I.R., first thoracic vertebra; 17. R., seventeenth thoracic 
vertebra; I.L., first lumbar vertebra; 6.L., sixth lumbar vertebra; K, sacrum; 
I.S., first coccygeal vertebra; 16. S., sixteenth coccygeal vertebra; 6.R., sixth rib; 
6.K., costal cartilage; 18. R., last rib; 1, scapula; 1', cartilage of scapula; 2, spine 
of scapula; 4, humerus; 4' lateral epicondyle of humerus; 5, lateral tuberosity of 
humerus; 6, deltoid tuberosity; 7, shaft of ulna; 8, olecranon; 9, radius; 10, carpus; 
11, accessory carpal bone; 12, metacarpus; 13, digit; 14, sternum; 14", xiphoid 
cartilage; 15, ilium; 16, 16' angles of ilium; 17, ischium; 18, femur (shaft); 19, 
trochanter major; 20, patella; 21, tibia (shaft); 21', lateral condyle of tibia; 23, 
fibula; 22, tarsus; 24, tuber calcis; 25, metatarsus; 26, digit; 27, trochanter minor 
of femur; 28, trochanter tertius of femur. (After Ellenberger-Baum, Anat. fur 
Kunstler.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. 
Saunders Co.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



13 



tect the brain, while those of the spinal column inclose and protect 
the spinal cord. 

All bones are covered with a tough membrane, the periosteum, 
except at their articular surfaces, where there is a layer of cartilage. 



Occipital Parietal Squamous temporal 
1 II 






\3T' X X" **, Frontal 






Lacrimal 
~^ Nasal 




Li£.Mr " '!i 


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Fig. 2. — Skull of horse, right view. 1, occipital condyle: 2, paramastoid process; 
3, mastoid process; 4, posterior process of squamous temporal bone; 5, external 
acoustic process; 6, zygomatic process of temporal bone; 7, postglenoioV process; 
8, glenoid cavity of squamous temporal bone; 9, condyle of same; 10, supraorbital 
process of frontal bone; 11, temporal part of frontal bone; 12, orbital part of frontal 
bone; 13, fossa sacci lacrimalis; 14, orbital surface of lacrimal bone; 15, lacrimal 
tubercle; 16, zygomatic process of malar bone; 17, maxillary tuberosity; 18, facial 
crest; 19, infraorbital foramen; 20, naso-maxillary notch; 21, body of premaxilla; 
2V, nasal process of same; 22, body of mandible; 23, mental foramen; 24, 25, hori- 
zontal and vertical parts of ramus of mandible; 26, condvle of mandible; 27, coronoid 
process of mandible; 28, angle of mandible; 29, vascular impression; 30, interalveolar 
margin; 31, incisor teeth; 32, canine teeth; 33, hyoid bone (great cornu). (From 
Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders.) 

4. The skull (fig. 2) is the bony framework of the head. It con- 
sists of 34 irregularly-shaped flat bones, and is divided into two 
parts, the cranium and the face. 



14 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

(a) The bones of the cranium inclose the brain, and, together with 
the bones of the face, form the orbital and nasal cavities, in which are 
situated the organs of sight and smell. 

(b) The bones of the face form the skeleton of the mouth and nasal 
cavities, and support the tongue and larynx. The most important 
bones of this region are the maxillae (upper jaw) and the mandible 
(lower jaw), each of which, on either side, presents six irregular 
cavities for the reception of the cheek (molar) teeth. From the 
orbital cavities forward the upper jaw gradually becomes narrower 
and terminates in the premaxilla, which contains the six upper 
incisor teeth; these six, with the corresponding teeth of the lower 
jaw, help form the anterior boundary of the mouth. 

(c) In each maxilla, just below the orbit, is an inclosed irregular- 
shaped cavity known as the maxillary sinus. It connects with the 
nasal cavity and contains the roots of the last three cheek teeth. 

5. The teeth, are 40 in number, and are of three kinds, viz: 

(a) The incisors, 12 in number, are situated in the front part of the 
mouth, 6 in the premaxilla and 6 in the anterior extremity of the 
lower jaw. 

(b) The canines (tushes), 4 in number, are situated in the inter- 
dental space just back of the incisors. In the mare these teeth are 
usually very small or wanting entirely. 

(c) The cheek teeth (molars), are 24 in number, and are situated in 
the back part of the mouth, 6 above and 6 below on each side of each 
jaw. The space between the incisors and molars is called the inter- 
dental space. 

6. The spinal or vertebral column may be regarded as the basis 
of the skeleton from which all other parts originate. _ It extends from 
the base of the skull to the tip of the tail, and consists of a chain of 
irregular bones called vertebrae, all solidly united by ligaments and 
cartilage. According to their position in the column, they are di- 
vided into five regions, which are, naming them from front to rear, 
the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.^ 

(a) In the cervical region there are 7 bones, which form the frame- 
work of the neck, the first being called the atlas and the second the 
axis, the remaining 5 having no special names. 

(b) The thoracic vertebrae are 18 in number.^ They furnish attach- 
ment for the upper ends of the ribs, and their superior spines, from 
the second to the eighth, inclusive, form the framework of the 
withers. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 15 

(c) The lumbar region consists of six bones forming the skeleton of 
the loins. 

(d) In the sacral region there are five segments which become 
united to form a single bone, the sacrum. 

(e) The coccygeal vertebrae are the last of the series. They number 
from 13 to 20 and form the skeleton of the tail. 

(/) Throughout the length of this bony chain from the atlas to the 
fourth coccygeal vertebra, inclusive, is a tubular passage called the 
spinal canal, which is continuous with the cranium and which con- 
tains the spinal cord. 

7. The bony thorax (chest) is a large cavity formed by the 
thoracic vertebrae above, the ribs on the sides and the sternum 
(breast bone) below. It contains the lungs, the heart, some large 
blood vessels and nerves, and a part of the trachea and the esophagus. 

8. The ribs are 18 on each side, and are attached above to the 
thoracic vertebrae. Below, the first eight are attached to the 
sternum by means of cartilage, and are called true or sternal ribs. 
The remaining 10 are attached indirectly to the sternum and are 
called false or asternal ribs. 

9. The bones of the fore limb, named from above downward, 
are the scapula, humerus, radius, and ulna; the carpus (knee) consist- 
ing of seven or eight small bones; the large metacarpal (cannon) bone; 
two small metacarpal (splint) bones; the first phalanx (long pastern 
bone); the second phalanx (short pastern bone); the third phalanx 
(coffin bone); two proximal sesamoids, and the distal sesamoid or navi- 
cular bone. 

10. The bones of the hind limb, named from above downward, 
are the os coxae (hip bone), femur (thigh), tibia, fibula, and patella 
(stifle); the tarsus (hock), consisting of six or seven small bones; the 
large metatarsal (cannon bone); the two small metatarsals (splint 
bones); the first phalanx (long pastern bone); the second phalanx 
(short pastern bone); the third phalanx (coffin bone); two proximal 
sesamoids, and the distal sesamoid or navicular bone. 

11. The os coxae (hip bone) consists of three parts, the ilium 
ischium, and pubis, all of which meet and unite to form a large cup- 
shaped cavity for articulation with the head of the femur. The right 
and left hip bones are connected above with the sacrum and below 
they are united with each other to form the floor of the pelvic cavity. 
This bony arch, together with the first three coccygeal vertebrae, is 
called the pelvis and forms the framework of the hips and croup. 



16 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

The Articulations. 

12. An articulation (joint) is the union of two or more bones or 
cartilages by strong fibrous bands called ligaments. 

Joints are of three types — immovable, slightly movable, and freely 
movable. 

(a) In movable joints the contact surfaces of the bones are covered 
with a thin, smooth layer of articular cartilage, the latter being lubri- 
cated with synovia or joint oil. 

13. Synovia is a thin oil-like fluid secreted by the synovial 
membrane. It is confined within and protected by the joint capsule, 
which completely surrounds the joint. 

14. Ligaments, with the exception of the ligamentum nuchae 
(neck ligament), are composed of inelastic white fibrous tissue which 
bind the bones together. 

15. Ligaments which hold the bones in position are known as 
binding ligaments. They are placed just outside the joint capsule 
with which they are closely related. 

16. The suspensory ligament (figs. 5, 6, 7) is a long, wide band 
of white fibrous tissue, originating on the back part of the lower bones 
of the knee (hock bones in the hind leg) and the upper end of the 
cannon bone. It then passes downward between the splint bones 
and divides near the lower end of the cannon into two branches, 
which are attached one to each sesamoid bone. From these bones the 
branches pass downward and forward, one on the inner and one on 
the outer side of the long pastern bone, to become attached to the 
tendon of the muscle which extends the foot. Its function is to 
brace the fetlock joint and support a large portion of the body weight. 

17. The ligamentum nuchae (neck ligament) is composed of 
yellow elastic tissue, and extends from the withers forward, above 
the cervical vertebrae, to become attached to the top of the skull. 
It supports the head and neck. 

18. The plantar ligament is located on the outer posterior 
border of the hock. It is one of the important binding ligaments of 
the hock joint. 

19. The joints of the fore limb, named from above downward, 
are the shoulder joint, formed by the scapula and humerus; the elboiv 
joint, formed by the humerus, radius, and ulna; the carpal (knee) 
joint, formed by the radius, the bones of the carpus, and the large 
and the two small metacarpal bones; the fetlock joint, formed by the 
large metacarpal bone, the proximal sesamoids, and the first phalanx; 
the pastern joint, formed by the first and second phalanges; and the 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 17 

coffin joint, formed by the second and third phalanges and the navicular 
bone. 

20. The joints of the hind limb, named from above downward, 
are the sacro-illiac joint, formed by the sacrum and ilium; the hip 
joint, formed by the hip bone and the femur; the stifle joint, formed 
by the femur, the patella, and tibia; the tarsal (hock) joint, formed by 
the tibia, the bones of the hock, and the large and small metatarsal 
bones. The joints below the hock are named and formed the same 
as in the fore limb. 

The Muscles. 

21. Muscles are the active organs of motion and are classified as 
voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary muscles are those under direct 
control of the will, as the muscles of the leg and tail. Involuntary 
muscles are those not under direct control of the will, as the heart 
and the muscles of the intestines. The voluntary muscles form 
about 45 per cent of the weight of the body. 

22. Muscles are composed of a contractile part, which is red in 
color and forms the flesh; and a tendinous part, which is usually 
attached to the bones but may be attached to other muscles. Ten- 
dons are similar in structure to ligaments, being composed of white 
inelastic fibers. Their function is to treansmit to the point of attach- 
ment the power generated by the contraction of the fleshy portion of 
the muscle. 

23. With regard to their form muscles are classified as long, wide, 
and short wide muscles surround the body cavities. Short muscles 
are found near the joints and irregular shaped bones. Long muscles 
are found in the limbs, in the neck, and along the back. 

24. A muscle is an extensor when its action is to extend, or 
straighten, a joint; it is & flexor when its action is to flex, or bend, a 
joint. The following paragraphs (25 and 26) contain a brief descrip- 
tion of a few important extensors and flexors of the limbs. 

25. Muscles of the fore limb (fig. 5, 6). 

(a) The common digital extensor (common extensor of the foot) 
(fig. 5c). This is the principal extensor of the fore leg and foot. It 
originates at the lower extremity of the humerus, and its fleshy por- 
tion continues to the lower end of the radius, at which point it 
becomes tendinous, passes downward over the knee, and continues 

106233°— 17 2 



18 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



along the front of the cannon to become attached to the upper and 
front part of the third phalanx. 
Action. — To extend the joints of the foot and knee. 




Fig. 3.— Superficial muscles of horse. The cutaneous muscle, except the cervical 
part, has been removed, a, Trapezius cervicalis; a', trapezius thoracalis; c, c, 
bracniocephalicus; d, sterno-cephalicus; e, deltoid; /,long head of triceps:/', lateral 
head of triceps; g, anterior superficial pectoral; h, posterior deep pectoral; h', an- 
terior deep pectoral; i, serratus thoracis; i', serratus cervicis; fc, latissimus dorsi; 
I obliquus abdominis externus;Z', aponeurosis of I; m, serratus dorsalis; w'^lumbo- 
dorsal fascia; o, tensor fasciae latae; o', fascia lata; o", gluteus superficialis; p', 
gluteal fascia; q, q' , q", biceps femoris; r, semitendinosus; s, sacro-coccygeus dor- 
salis; t, sacro-coccygeus lateralis; u, coccygeus; v, cervical cutaneous muscle; w, 
splenius; x, rhomboideus; y, tendon of lohgissimus capitis et atlantis and brach- 
iocephalicus; z, supraspinatus; z' , external intercostal; x, wing of atlas; 2, spine 
of scapula; 4', lateral epicondyle of humerus; 6, deltoid tuberosity; 8, olecranon; 
16, tuber coxae; 20, patella; 21', lateral condvle of tibia. (After Ellenberger-Baum, 
Anat. fiir Kiinstler.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; Copy- 
right, W. B. Saunders Co.) 

(6) The superficial digital flexor (superficial flexor of the foot) 
(fig. 6). This muscle originates from the lower and inner part of 
the humerus. It passes down the back part of the leg, becoming 
tendinous just above the knee; from the knee it passes downward to 
the fetlock where it expands and forms a ring for the passage of the 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 19 

deep flexor tendon. At the lower end of the first phalanx the tendon 
divides into two branches which become attached one on either 
side of the upper end of the second phalanx. The tendon of this 



Fig. 4.— Deeper muscles of horse, d, Sterno-cepbalicus; /,long head of triceps; 
/' lateral head of triceps; g, anterior superficial pectoral; h. posterior deep pectoral 
h', anterior deep pectoral; i } serratus thoracis; %' , serratus cervicis; I, obliquus 
abdominis externus, and V ', its aponeurosis, the posterior jpart of which has been 
removed; m, serratus dorsalis posterior; p, gluteus medius; r, semitendinosus ; 
s, sacro-coccygeus dorsalis; t, sacro-coccygeus lateralis; u, coccygeus; v' , biceps 
brachii; x, rhomboideus; y, y', longissimus capitis et altantis; ~, supraspinatus; 
z'j infraspinatus; 1'. cartilage of scapula; 2, spine of scapula; 5, lateral tuberosity 
of humerus; 6, deltoid tuberosity; 8, olecranon; 16, tuber coxae; 19, trochanter 
major; 20, patella; 2V, lateral condyle of tibia; 26, transverse processes of cervical 
vertebrae; 27, parotido-auricularis; 28, vastus lateralis; 28', rectus fer.ioris; 28", 
trochanter tertius; 29, semimembranosus; 30, gastrocnemius; 31, sacro-sciatic 
ligament; 32, omo-hyoideus; 33, complexus; 3j, rectus capitis ventralis major; 
35, spinalis dorsi; 36, longissimus dorsi; 37, longissimus costarum; 38, teres minor; 
39, brachialis; 40, external intercostal; 41, obliquus abdominis internus; 42 } iliacus; 
43, transversus abdominis. (After Ellenberger-Baum, Anat. fur Kunstler.) 
(From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders 
Co.) 

muscle lies behind the cannon, immediately under the skin, and 
covers the deep flexor tendon. 

Action. — To flex the knee, fetlock, and pastern. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



luiir hi (id of do i> •!• .;<»• 




Fig. 5.— Muscles of left thoracic limb of horse from elbow downward, lateral 
view, a, Extensor carpi radialis; g, brachialis; g' ', anterior superficial pectoral; 
c, common digital extensor; c, ulnaris lateralis. (After Ellenberger-Baum, 
Anat. fur Kunstler.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; 
copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



21 



Ulnar head of deep flexor ■ 
Stump of flexor carpi radialis 

Stump of flexor 'carpi ulnaris" 



S upcrfi c in I dig ital 

Deep digital flexor 

Tendon of ulnar head 

Radial f\ead of superficial- flexor 

■Insertion of flexor car pi ulnaris 
•Accessory carpal bone 




Biceps brachii 

Brachialis 

Lam] medial ligament 



— Extensor carpi radialis 



Radius 



Tendon of flexor carpi radialis 
Tendon of extensor carpi obliquvs 



Deep flexor tendon _H9 
Superficial flexor tendon -oL<? 

Check-ligament — 
Suspensory ligament 



Annular ligament — 



Deep flexor tendon 
Cartilage of third pludqpx 




Fetlock joint 

Extensor branch of suspensory 
lujaini nt 



Fig. 6.— Muscles of left thoracic limb of horse, from elbow downward, medial 
view. Parts of superficial muscles have been removed, carpal canal opened 
up, and flexor tendons drawn backward. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the 
Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



22 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

(c) The deep digital flexor (deep flexor of the foot) (fig. 6). This 
muscle originates with the superficial digital flexor. Its tendinous 
portion begins at the knee, passes down the leg between the cannon 
bone and the tendon of the superficial flexor, over the back part of 
the fetlock, through the ring formed by the superficial tendon, and 
is attached to the under surface of the third phalanx. 

Action. — To flex the knee and all joints below it. 

26. Muscles of the hind limb (fig. 7). 

(a) The long digital extensor (long extensor of the foot) (fig. 7). 
This muscle originates from the lower and front part of the femur; 
its fleshy portion passes downward along the front surface of the 
tibia to the hock, where it becomes tendinous; from the hock it 
passes down the front of the leg to become attached to the upper 
and front part of the third -phalanx. 

Action. — To extend the foot and flex the hock. 

(6) Tibialis anterior (anterior tibial). This muscle lies in front of 
the tibia. . 

Origin. — From the front and outer border of the tibia. 

Insertion. — By two tendons, one to the upper and front part of 
the large metatarsal bone; the other to one of the small bones on the 
inner side of the hock. 

Action. — To flex the hock joint. 

(c) Peroneus tertius. — This is a strong tendinous cord, extending 
from the lower end of the front part of the femur to the hock where 
it terminates in two branches — a large one inserted in the front part 
of the upper end of the large metatarsal bone, and a small one passing 
outward to become attached to one of the small bones of the hock. 

Action. — Mechanically to flex the hock when the stifle joint is 
flexed. 

(d) The superficial digital flexor (superficial flexor of the foot) 
(fig. 7) of the hind log originates at the back and lower part of the 
femur. It extends downward back of the tibia to the point of the 
hock over which it passes; thence down the back of the leg to be dis- 
posed of in the same manner as the superficial digital flexor of the 
front leg. 

Action. — To extend the hock and flex the fetlock and pastern. 

(e) The deep digital flexor (deep flexor of the foot) (fig. 7) of the 
hind leg originates from the upper and back part of tne tibia, near 
the lower third of which it becomes tendinous and passes downward 
over the inner and back side of the hock to become attached to the 
third phalanx in the same manner as the deep flexor of the fore leg. 

Action. — To extend the hock and flex the joints below it. 



Crest of tibia - 

Long digital extensor — 
Lateral digital extensor - - 




Proximal annular ligament. —• *\, \\*j 

Lateral malleolus X-w^'f 

Middle annular ligament \ j ■ 

Distal annular ligament. 
Tendon of long extensor- 
Tendon of lateral extensor- 



Branch of suspensory liganu id to 



Gastrocnemius, Intend head 

Salens 

Tendon, of gastrocnemius 
Tarsal tendon of biceps femoris 
Deep flexor 



Superficial 
flexor tendo. 





Superficial flexor 
" tendon 




. Deep flexor tendo 





Suspensory 



Fig. 7. Muscles of lower part of thigh, leg, and foot of horse, lateral view, o', Fascia 
lata; q, q', q" , biceps femoris; r, semitendinosus; 21', lateral condyle of tibia. The 
extensor brevis is visible In the angle between the long and lateral extensor tendons, 
but by an oversight it is not marked. (After Ellenberger-Baum, Anat. fur Kunst- 
ler.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saun- 
ders Co.) 

23 



24 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

(/) Gastrocnemius (fig. 7). This muscle originates at the lower and 
back of the femur and is attached to the point of the hock. At the 
back part of the leg the tendon of this muscle becomes closely asso- 
ciated with the tendon of the superficial digital flexor, the two form- 
ing the tendon of achilles, or hamstring. 

Action.— To extend the hock and flex the stifle joint. 

27. Synovial membranes (synovial bursse and synovial 
sheaths) of tendons and muscles (figs. 8, 9, 10, 11) are thin-walled 
sacs, similar to the synovial membranes of the joints. They secrete 
synovia for the prevention of friction and are placed at points where 
one structure moves upon another, as where a tendon plays over a 
bone. 

The Digestive System. 

28. The digestive organs are the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, 
stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus; all lined with 
mucous membrane. 

29. The mouth extends from the lips to the pharynx and is 
bounded on the sides by the cheeks and above by the hard palate. 
Its floor is formed by the tongue and other muscular tissue. Separ- 
ating the mouth from the pharynx is the soft palate, a fleshy curtain 
suspended from the back part of the hard palate, which permits the 
passage of food and water from the mouth to the pharynx but pre- 
vents its passage in the opposite direction. The lips are the organs 
of prehension (picking up) and possess the sense of touch. The 
tongue is a muscular organ, situated between the branches of the 
lower jaw. It is the^ organ of taste and assists in the processes of 
mastication, insalivation, and swallowing. Opening into the mouth 
are the ducts of the salivary glands — the parotid, submaxillary, and 
sublingual. These glands are six in number, located in pairs on 
either side of the mouth. The pharynx, see paragraph 50. 

30. The esophagus is a muscular tube extending from the 
pharynx to the stomach. It passes down the lower left side of the 
neck, through the middle portion of the thoracic cavity, pierces the 
diaphragm and enters the stomach near the front of the abdominal 
cavity. 

31 . The stomach (fig. 13) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ, situated 
in the anterior and left side of the abdominal cavity, behLid the 
liver. Its internal, or mucous, coat is divided into a right and a 



Fig. 8. — Synovial sheaths and bursas of distal part of right fore limb of horse, medial 
view. The synovial sheaths (colored yellow) and the joint capsules (colored pink) 
are injected, 'a, Sheath of extensor carpi ohliquns; b, sheath of flexor carpi radialis; 
c, carpal sheath; d,d',d",d" f , digital sheath; e 2 bursa under common extensor ten- 
don; /, capsule of fetlock joint; 1, extensor carpi radialis; 2, tendon of extensor carpi 
ohliquns; 3, flexor carpi radialis; 4, flexor carpi ulnaris; 5, superficial flexor tendon; 
6, deep flexor tendon; 7, suspensory ligament; 8, small metacarpal bone; 9, large 
metacarpal bone; 10, volar annular ligament of fetlock; 11, proximal digital annular 
ligament; IS, radius; 13, radiocarpal joint: 11, fetlock joint; 15, cartilage of third 
phalanx; 16, band from first phalanx to cartilage. (After Fllenberger, in Leiser- 
ing'sAtlas.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W.B. 
Saunders Co.) 

Fig. 0. — Synovial sheaths and bursa* of distal part of right fore limb of horse, lateral 
view. The synovial sheaths (colored yellow) and the joint capsules (colored ink) 
are injected. " a, Sheath of extensor carpi radialis; 6, sheath of common extensor; 
c, sheath of lateral extensor; d, sheath ofoutertendon of ulnaris lateralis; e,e', carpal 
sheath; /,/',/", digital sheath; g, bursa under common extensor tendon; h, bursa 
under lateral extensor tendon; i, capsule of fetlock joint; 1, extensor carpi radialis; 
2, common digital extensor; 3, lateral digital extensor; 4, ulnaris lateralis; 4', 4", 
tendons of 4; 5, superficial flexor tendon; 6, deep flexor tendon; 7, suspensory liga- 
ment; s, lateral metacarpal bone; 0, large metacarpal bone; 10, volar annular liga- 
ment of fetlock; 11, digital annular ligament; 12, fetlock joint; A?, cartilage of third 
phalanx: 1.L band from first phalanx to cartilage. (After Ellenberger, in Leiser- 
ing's Atlas.) (From Sisson's Anatomv of the Domestic Animals; copyright, 
W. B. Saunders Co.) 

Fig. 10. — Injected synovial sheaths and bnrsae of tarsal region of horse, medial view. 
a, Synovial sheath of peroneus tertius and tibialis anterior; b, bursa under medial 
(cunean) tendon of tibialis anterior; c, synovial sheath of flexor longus; d, tarsal 
sheath of deep flexor; e, e', bursa under superficial flexor tendon; /,/', tibio-tarsal 
joint capsule; 1, long extensor; 2, tibialis anterior; 2', medial (cunean) tendon of 2; 
8, flexor longus; 4, deep digital flexor: 5, superficial flexor tendon; ^gastrocnemius 
tendon; 7, tibia; 8, tarsus; 9, tuber calcis; 10, large metatarsal bone; 11, medial 
small metatarsal bone; 12, 12', fascial bands. (After Ellenberger, in Leisering's 
Atlas.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. 
Saunders Co.) 

Fig. 11 .—Injected synovial sheaths and bursa? of tarsal region of horse, lateral view. 
a, Synovial sheath of long digital extensor; b, synovial sheath of lateral digital 
extensor; c, c', bursa under superficial flexor tendon; d, capsule of hock joint; 1, 
long extensor; 2, lateral extensor; 3, 3, 3, annuiar ligaments; 4> deep digital flexor; 
6. tendon of gastrocnemius; 6, superficial flexor tendon; 7, tibia; 8, tarsus; .9, tuber 
calcie; 10, metatarsus. (After Ellenberger, in Leisering's Atlas.) (From Sisson's 
Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, AV. B. Saunders Co.) 

24o 





Fig. 8. 



Fig. 9. 



(See Page 24a. ) 







FfG. 10. 



Fig. 11. 



(See Page 24a.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



25 



left portion. The left, or cuticular, _ portion _ has a hard, yellowish 
white surface which is continuous with the lining of the esophagus. 
The right, villous, or true digestive portion is reddish in color, vas- 
cular, and contains the peptic glands which secrete the gastric juice. 




Fig. 12. — Digestive apparatus. 1, mouth; 2, pharynx; 3, esophagus; 4, diaphragm; 
5, liver; 6, stomach (left sac); 8, liver, upper extremity; 9. large colon; 10, caecum; 
11, small intestines; 12, floating colon; 13, rectum, 14, anus; 15, left kidney and its 
ureter; 16, bladder; 17, urethra. 



The capacity of the horse's stomach (from 3 to 4 gallons) is small in 
proportion to the size of the animal. 

32. The small intestine extends from the stomach to the large 
intestine. It is about 70 feet long and from one to two inches in 
diameter. 



26 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



33. The large intestine is about 22 feet long and varies in 
diameter. It consists of four parts, the cxcum, great colon, small 
colon, and rectum. 

34. The mucous membrane of the intestines is covered with 
minute projections called villi, which absorb the nutriment of the 



Saccua cccqus 

{kft extremity) 




Hum duodeni 



Fig. 13.— Frontal section of stomach and first part of duodenum of horse. C, Cardiac 
orifice. Photograph of specimen fixed in situ. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the 
Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



food after it has been prepared by_ digestion. The mucous mem- 
brane also contains small glands which pour their secretions into the 
intestines. These glands and villi are more numerous in the small 
intestine than in the large. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 27 

35. The anus is a muscular ring forming the posterior opening 
of the alimentary canal. It appears as a round projection below the 
root of the tail. 

36. The stomach and intestines are suspended in the abdominal 
cavity by strong, fibrous bands, the mesentery, which are attached 
above to the lower surface of the muscle below the spinal column. 
Accompanying these fibrous bands are blood vessels, lymphatic 
vessels and glands, and nerves. Inclosing the intestines and lining- 
the abdominal cavity is a serous membrane called the 'peritoneum. 
The mesentery is a part of the peritoneum. 

37. In the abdominal cavity are three large glands, the liver, 
pancreas, and spleen. The spleen is a ductless gland. The liver 
and the pancreas are part of the digestive system. 

38. The liver lies behind the diaphragm and in front of the 
stomach. It weighs from 10 to 12 pounds. _ Its function is to secrete 
bile, which is poured into the small intestines, where it aids diges- 
tion. 

39. The pancreas is situated behind the stomach and in front 
of the kidneys, in the upper portion of the abdominal cavity. It 
weighs about 17 ounces. Its function is to secrete pancreatic fluid, 
which is poured into the small intestine, to aid in digestion. 

40. The spleen is attached to the left side of the stomach. _ It 
is reddish gray in color and weighs from 2 to 3 pounds. Its function 
is not definitely known, but it is supposed to be concerned in the 
formation and destruction of blood corpuscles. It also appears to 
act as a reservoir for the extra supply of blood required by the 
stomach during digestion. 

4 1 . The abdominal cavity is inclosed by the muscles of the back 
above, the abdominal muscles on the sides and below, and the dia- 
phragm in front. In the rear it is continuous with the pelvic cavity. 

PHYSIOLOGY OP DIGESTION. 

42. The function of the digestive organs as a whole is to take in 
the food, digest it, absorb the nutriment, and discharge the waste 
material from the body. The various steps are as follows: 

43. Food is taken into the mouth by the lips, prehension, and is 
there ground up by the teeth, mastication, and mixed with saliva, 
insalivation. Saliva, which is secreted by the salivary glands, 
moistens the food and acts chemically upon certain parts. The 
tongue determines the taste of the food and by its muscular action 



28 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

assists in insalivation. From the mouth the food is carried back 
by the tongue to the pharynx. As soon as it reaches the pharynx 
the act of swallowing becomes involuntary and is completed by the 
pharynx and esophagus. 

44. When the food reaches the stomach it is subjected to a me- 
chanical rolling and mixing in the left side of the stomach (macera- 
tion). It gradually passes to the right side of the stomach, where 
it is acted upon by the gastric juice. It then passes into the small 
intestine and is called chyme. 

45. In the small intestine, the chyme is acted on by the bile 
and pancreatic fluid and is then called chyle. The villi of the small 
intestines take up those parts of the food that have been rendered 
absorbable by digestion and the remainder is passed on to the 
cecum, which is the water reservoir. Here it is soaked and diges- 
tion continues slowly in the cecum and great colon. The digested 
parts of the food are absorbed here and the waste materials are passed 
on into the small colon. In the small colon the moisture is absorbed 
and the residue is formed into pellets of dung which are stored in 
the rectum, to be discharged at intervals through the anus (defe- 
cation). 

The Respiratory System. 

46. The respiratory system consists of the nostrils, nasal 
chambers, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and the lungs, all of 
which, except the air sacs, are lined with mucous membrane. 

47. A mucous membrane is a thin layer of tissue lining all 
cavities and canals of the body which communicate with the external 
air. 

48. Serous membranes are thin, glistening structures which 
line the cavities of the body and cover to a certain extent the organs 
therein contained. They secrete a fluid called serous fluid (serum) 
which moistens their surfaces and prevents friction. The synovial 
membranes, the peritoneum, and the plurae are serous membranes. 

49. The nostrils are two oblong openings above the upper lip. 
They are the anterior openings of the nasal chambers. 

50. The nasal chambers extend from the nostrils to the pharynx 
and occupy the bony canals above the mouth, from which they are 
separated by the hard palate. They are separated from each other 
by the cartilaginous septum nasi. Each chamber is divided into 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



29 



three passages by the turbinated bones. The sense of smell is located 
at the back of the nasal chambers. 

51. The pharynx is an elongated cylindrical muscular cavity 
common to the respiratory and digestive tracts. It lies just back of 




Fig. 14.— Respiratory apparatus. 3, Nasal chamber; 4, tongue; 5, pharynx; 6, larynx; 
7, epiglottis, or potlid; 8 ; trachea, or windpipe; 9, Esophagus, or gullet; 10, section 
of left bronchus; 11, ramifications of the right bronchus; 12, right lung; 13, left lung, 
seen from above; 14, sternum; 15 ; ribs; 15a, section of the left ribs; 16, heart; 17, 
posterior aorta (cut off); 18, anterior aorta (cut off). 



the mouth, above the larynx, and is continued backward by the 
esophagus. 

52. The larynx is a muscular, cartilaginous box, situated in the 
back part of the maxillary space. It has an anterior opening into 
the pharynx and a posterior one into the trachea, with which it is 



30 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

continuous. It gives passage to the air on its way to and from the 
lungs, and is the organ of voice. The anterior opening is guarded 
by a flexible cartilage called the epiglottis, which closes mechanic- 
ally in the act of swallowing and prevents the passage of food or 
water into the larynx, trachea, and lungs. 

53. The trachea is a flexible cylindrical tube, composed of 
from 40 to 50 incomplete cartilaginous rings, the number varying 
according to the length of the neck. It extends from the larynx 
to the base of the heart, where it divides into the right and left 
bronchi. These enter the lungs and subdivide into the bronchial 
tubes, the final subdivisions terminating in the air cells. The 
bronchi and bronchial tubes have cartilaginous plates in their walls 
to prevent their collapse. The air cells are minute sacs composed 
of a single layer of tissue cells and are surrounded by a network of 
capillaries. 

54. The lungs, the essential organs of respiration, are two light, 
spongy organs of conical shape, situated in the thoracic cavity, one 
on either side. They are composed of elastic fibrous tissue and con- 
tain bronchial tubes, air cells, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and 
nerves. 

55. The thoracic cavity is inclosed by the thoracic vertebrae, 
ribs, sternum, the muscles between the ribs (intercostal muscles), 
and the diaphragm. It contains the lungs, heart, large blood ves- 
sels, lymph vessels, nerves, the posterior portion of the trachea, the 
bronchi and a portion of the esophagus. The thoracic cavity is 
lined by two serous sacs, the right and left pleurae. 

53. The diaphragm is a muscular and tendinous partition form- 
ing the posterior wall of the thoracic cavity and separating it from 
the abdomen. 

57. Respiration consists of two acts; inspiration, the drawing of 
the air into the lungs; and expiration, the expulsion of the air from 
the lungs. These acts are involuntary and are controlled by the 
nervous system. When the horse is at rest respiration occurs about 
12 times per minute. The amount of air taken in at each inspira- 
tion is about 250 cubic inches, the same amount being expelled at 
each expiration. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 31 

The Urogenital System. 

58. The urinary organs are the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and 
urethra. 

59. The kidneys are two glands situated one on either side of 
the spinal column immediately below the lumbar vertebrae. Their 
function is to separate waste material (urine) from the blood. 

60. The ureters are two fibrous tubes conveying the urine from 
the kidneys to the bladder. 

61. The bladder is a muscular sac in which the urine is stored 
until discharged from the body. 

62. The urethra is a mucous tube which extends from the 
bladder to the head of the penis, in the male. In the female it 
extends from the bladder to the floor of the vagina, about 3 inches 
from the external opening. 

63. The urine is a yellowish fluid composed of water, various 
salts, and waste materials from the body. The normal amount 
secreted is from 3 to 6 quarts in 24 hours. The color and quantity 
are variable, due to A^ariations in food, work, and the temperature 
of the air. 

64. The principal male generative organs are the testicles 
and penis. 

65. The female generative organs are the ovaries, fallopian 
tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva. 

The Circulatory System. 

66. The circulatory system consists of the heart, arteries, capil- 
laries, veins, and the blood. 

67. The heart (fig.^ 16) is a hollow organ, made up of involun- 
tary muscles. It is situated in the middle and left side of the 
thoracic cavity, between the lungs, and is inclosed in a serous sac 
called the pericardium. In shape it is a blunt cone with the base 
upward and it weighs about 6| pounds. It is divided into two parts, 
right and left, by a longitudinal muscular wall, or septum. Each 
part is divided into two cavities, the atrium above and the ventricle 
below. On each side the atrium and the ventricle communicate by 
openings which are guarded by valves to prevent the back flow of 
blood, but there is no communication between the two sides. The 
function of the heart is to maintain the circulation by continually 
pumping the blood through the arteries as it receives it from the veins. 

106233°— 17 3 



32 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

68. Arteries are strong thick- walled tubes which carry the blood 
from the heart to all parts of the body. They give off branches and 
subdivide until they terminate in the capillaries. 




Fig. 15.— Circulatory apparatus. 1, Heart (right ventricle); 2, heart (left ventricle) 
3, heart (left auricle); 3a, heart (right auricle); 4, pulmonary arteries (cut off); 
5, pulmonary veins (cut off); 6, anterior aorta; 7, common carotid artery; 9, left 
brachial artery; 13, humeral artery; 14, radial artery; 15, metacarpal artery; 16; 
digital artery; 17, posterior aorta; 1*8, branches distributed to the stomach, sp'.een; 
pancreas, etc.; 19, branches distributed to the intestines; 20, branch to the kidneys; 
22, posterior yena caya; 24, external iliac artery; 25, internaliliac artery; 27, femoral 
artery; 28, posterior tibial artery; 29, metatarsal artery; 30, venous network of the 
foot; 33, jugular vein; 34, anterior vena caya. 

69. Capillaries are small, thin-walled vessels that are just large 
enough to permit the passage of the blood corpuscles. In these 
vessels occurs the exchange of substances between the blood and 
the tissues, the tissues being supplied with oxygen and nutritious 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



material, the blood receiving waste in the form of carbonic acid gas. 
An exception to this process is found in the capillaries surrounding 
the air cells of the lungs, where the blood gives off carbonic acid gas 
and receives oxygen. The capillaries form a close network in all 
the tissues of the body, but are invisible to the naked eye. 











Pulmi 


nary vcim 






f J A 


Pulmonary artery //I \\~ 








rM ' 


^ */ 


//,' J 


\\ 






« r i 1 


ts~4 






.-1 nkrwr^-M 


i2t 




mm 




^■m " Great coronary 


MuaculuB M 
pectinatua' M 




ML . 




,■1$ .•>' 


HBpA/ Left coronary 
WF*m~> — ' ir/! * T .V (circum- . 
.(' fl'' x branch) 
■*-■■"■ Bicuspid valve 

B ^Chorda- Undineoi 


Right coronary} 
artery 






, 




w'' piipilluris 

Jj ,.- Moderator ba7id 


Tric.Hjsjrid mid 






wL \ 


''1 


l,<: ■■■ •■..':•■-•/. 


Chorda tend 


Icrbtor bai 


>1-- "Xf^l 


m^ J 








Right 


ventricle -^ S ** ! 
Right, citron 


ar.y artery --"' 




s 



Fig. 16.— Section of heart of horse. Specimen hardened in situ and cut nearly at 
right angles to the ventricular septum. The left ventricle is contracted, but not 
ad maximum. V. a., Segment of aortic valve. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the 
Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



70. Veins are the vessels that return the blood to the heart. 
They begin at the capillaries and by uniting form larger veins which 
finally empty into the atria. Veins differ from arteries in that 
their walls are thinner and less firm, and by their having valves 
which prevent the blood flowing backward within them. Veins 



34 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

accompany arteries, as a rule, and bear the same names; among 
exceptions to this rule may be noted the anterior and posterior vena 
cava and the jugular veins. The circulation through the veins is 
assisted by the contraction of the muscles during movement and 
respiration. 

71. The blood is a fluid which carries oxygen and nutritive 
material to all the tissues of the body and, together with the lymph, 
carries the waste material to the excretory organs. It is an opaque, 
thickish fluid with a salty taste. Its color varies, being a bright red 
or scarlet in the arteries and a dark purple in the veins, except in the 
pulmonary artery, which carries purple or venous blood, and the 
pulmonary veins, which carry red or arterial blood. It forms a 
clot when the blood vessels are ruptured and the blood is exposed 
to the air or tissues. 

72. Blood is composed of serum and red and white corpuscles. The 
serum is a thin, yellowish fluid in which the corpuscles float. It con- 
tains the soluble nutrient material from the food. 

73. The red corpuscles carry oxygen to the tissues and carbonic 
acid gas away from them. When they are charged with oxygen they 
give the scarlet color to the blood, and the purple color when charged 
with carbonic acid gas. The red corpuscles are formed in the bone 
marrow. 

74. The white corpuscles repair and assist in replacing worn out, 
diseased or injured tissues. They also protect the tissues by destroy- 
ing the germs which produce disease. They are formed in the 
lymphatic glands and the spleen. 

75. There are two divisions of the circulation, the pulmonary 
and the systemic. 

(a) The pulmonary circulation takes the blood from the heart to 
the lungs and back to the heart. The impure blood from the whole of 
the body enters the right atrium by the anterior and posterior venae 
cavae; from the right atrium it passes to the right ventricle; from the 
right ventricle it is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, 
where it is purified by giving off carbonic acid gas and taking up oxy- 
gen. From the lungs the now purified blood is returned to the heart 
through the pulmonary veins and emptied into the left atrium. 

(b) The systemic circulation. From the left atrium the blood passes 
into the left ventricle, thence into the aorta to be pumped to all parts 
of the body, being distributed by means of arteries and capillaries; 
from the capillaries it is collected by veins and brought back to the 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 35 

right atrium through the anterior and posterior venae cavae to be again 
sent to the lungs for purification. 

76. The aorta is the beginning of the arterial system. It is 
given off at the base of the left ventricle and divides into thoracic and 
abdominal parts. 

(a) The thoracic aorta passes forward and divides into branches 
which supply the front part of the thorax, the front limbs, the neck, 
and the head. 

(b) The abdominal aorta passes upward and backward, below the 
spinal column, to the last lumbar vertebrae where it divides into 
four branches which are distributed to the hind quarters and posterior 
limbs. Between its origin at the base of the left ventricle and its 
termination in the lumbar region it gives off branches to the muscles 
of the ribs, the lungs (for their nourishment), liver stomach, spleen, 
pancreas, intestines, kidneys, and muscles of the loins. 

77. (a) The anterior vena cava, a large, short vein, returns the 
blood from the parts supplied by the thoracic aorta. It is located in 
the front part of the thorax and empties its blood into the right 
atrium. 

(b) The posterior vena cava, the largest and longest vein in the body, 
returns the blood from the parts supplied by the abdominal aorta. 
It commences at the entrance of the pelvic cavity, runs forward under 
the bodies of the vertebrae, and empties its blood into the right 
atrium along with that from the anterior vena cava. 

78. The contraction of the heart sends the blood out in waves and 
causes a temporary increased distention of the walls of the arteries. 
These waves pass from the heart toward the extremities and can be 
felt where the arteries are near the surface. The waves, or beats, 
are called the pulse and correspond to the contractions of the heart. 
The normal pulse rate is from 36 to 40 beats a minute. 

The Lymphatic System. 

79. The lymphatic system consists of a series of vessels, a num- 
ber of glands through which the vessels pass, and certain fluids known 
as lymph and chyle. 

80. The lymph vessels are thin, delicate tubes, similar to veins, 
which gather the lymph from the tissues and convey it to the blood. 
The lymph from the right fore extremity, the right side of the head, 
neck, and thorax, is collected by the fight lymphatic vessel. From 



36 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

all other parts of the body it is collected by the thoracic duct; both 
vessels emptying their lymph into the anterior vena cava just in 
front of the heart. 

81. Lymph glands are small groups of cells through which the 
lymph vessels pass and in which white corpuscles are formed. They 
also act as filters for the removal of disease germs and other injurious 
substances. 

82. Lymph is a watery fluid by which the tissues are nourished, 
and by which waste material is gathered from them and eliminated. 
Lymph is derived from the blood and passes into the tissues by oozing 
through the thin walls of the capillaries. After bathing and nourish- 
ing the tissues it is conveyed by the lymph vessels back to the blood, 
again. The flow of lymph is brought about by the contraction of the 
muscles in the vicinity of the vessels. 

83. Chyle is a milky fluid formed in the intestines. It contains 
the nutritive elements of the food and is conveyed by a series of 
lymph vessels to the blood. 

The Nervous System. 

84. The nervous system is divided into two minor systems, the 
cerebrospinal, which is to a considerable extent_ influenced by the 
will of the animal, and the sympathetic, over which the will has no 
control. 

85. In the cerebrospinal system the central portion is composed 
of two parts; the brain, which occupies the cranial cavity, and the 
spinal cord, which occupies the canal in the vertebrial column. 
The communicating portion of this system consistsof the cerebro- 
spinal nerves, which leave the brain and spinal cord in symmetrical 
pairs and are distributed to the voluntary muscles and the organs 
of common sensation and special sense. 

86. In the sympathetic system the central portion consists of a 
double chain of ganglia (groups of nerve cells) connected by nerves, 
which extends from the head to the tail below; and on each side of 
the spinal column. The communicating portion of this system is 
distributed to the involuntary muscles, mucous membranes, internal 
organs, and blood vessels. 

87. A nerve consists of a bundle of tubular fibers, held together 
hy connective tissue. The nerve fibers are simply transmission 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



37 



lines conveying impressions from the nerve endings to the brain 
or cord and conveying impulses from the brain or cord to the muscles 




Fig. 17.— Nervous system of the horse. 1, Brain; 2, cptic nerve; 3, maxillary nerve 
(fifth); 4, mandibular nerve (fifth); 5, vagus nerve; 6, medulla oblongata: 7, right 
brachial plexus; 8, musculocutaneous nerve; 9, median nerve; 10, radial nerve; 
11, ulnar nerve; 12, vagus nerve; 13, cocliac plexus; 14, semilunar ganglion; 15, 
lumbo-sacral plexus; 16, femoral nerve; 17, great sciatic nerve; 18, peroneal nerve; 
19, external saphenic nerve; 20, tibial nerve; 21, metatarsal nerve; 22, radial portion 
of mediannerve; 23, metacarpal nerves; 24, digital branches; s.s., sympathetic chain; 
c, inferios cervical plexus; g, gutteral ganglion; Sp., great splanchnic nerve: p. m., 
posterior mesenteric plexus; p, pelvic plexus.— (From Strangeways' Veterinary 
Anatomy.) 



and various organs. In the cerebro-spinal system these impulses 
are considerably influenced by the will of the animal. 



38 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



The Eye. 



88. The eyes are the organs of sight and are situated in the 
orbital cavities. The eye is spherical in shape and is held in posi- 
tion by muscles which turn it and retract it (draw it back) in the 
orbital cavity. A pad of fat below and behind the eye protects it 

from injury due to 
blows and causes the 
membrana nictitans to 
pass over the front of 
the eye when it is re- 
tracted by the mus- 
cles. 

89. The eye is pro- 
tected by two mova- 
ble fleshy curtains, 
the upper and lower 
eyelids. These are 
composed of muscular 
and fibrous tissue in 
their central portion 
and are covered ex- 
ternally with skin. 
The internal surface 
of the eyelids, the 
membrana nictitans 
and the front part of 
the eye are covered with a mucous membrane, the conjunctiva, which 
is continuous with the skin at the edges of the eyelids. In the edges 
of the eyelids are strong hairs which protect the eye from dust and 
small objects floating in the air. 

90. The membrana nic titan, or accessory eyelid (haw), is situated 
between the inner side of the orbital cavity and the eyeball, within 
the lids. When the eye is retracted it passes oyer the front part of 
the eye, removing any foreign objects and moistening thecornea. 

91. The eye proper is composed of three coats and certain internal 
structures. 

92. The outer covering of the eye is formed by the sclerotic coat 
and the cornea. The sclerotic coat is composed of strong white 
fibrous tissue and forms the protective covering. It covers four- 




Fig. 18.— Section of the eye. c, Cornea; eyelids; /, fluid 
i, iris; 1, crystalline lens; o, optic nerve; p, pupil 
r, retina. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 39 

fifths of the eyeball and affords attachment for the muscles of the eye. 
In front of and continuous with the sclerotic coat is the cornea, a 
transparent tissue which admits the light to the interior of the eye. 

93. The choroid, or middle coat, is a vascular membrane of a 
dark color. At the juncture of the sclerotic coat and the cornea the 
choroid coat sends down a circular dark colored membrane, the iris, 
in the center of which is the pupil, a small opening for the admission 
of light. By muscular contraction the pupil can be increased or 
decreased in size to regulate the amount of light passing into the 
eye. On the iris above and below the pupil are several small black 
projections called granula iridis, or soot balls. The use of these 
bodies is not definitely known. 

94. The retina, or inner coat, is the expansion of the optic nerve. 
It receives the impressions of sight, and the optic nerve transmits 
them to the brain. 

95. The crystalline lens is situated behind the iris and pupil. 
It is a circular, transparent body, thick in the middle and tapering 
toward the edges. Its function is to focus the rays of light on the 
retina. 

96. The aqueous humor, a watery fluid, occupies the space 
between the cornea and the crystalline lens. The vitreous humor, 
a jellylike fluid, occupies the space between the retina and the 
crystalline lens. The function of these fluids is to maintain the 
proper shape of the eyeball. 

The Ear. 

97. The ears are the organs of hearing. They are located one on 
either side of the poll. 

98. The ear may be divided into two portions, external and 
internal. 

99. The external ear is funnel-shaped, formed of cartilage, and 
covered with skin both inside and outside. There are numerous 
fine hairs on the inside of the funnel which prevent the passage of 
foreign bodies into the internal ear. The lower portion of the funnel 
communicates with the internal ear and is supplied with numerous 
sebaceous glands. There are muscles attached to the lower part of 
the cartilage by which the ears are moved at will. 

100. The internal ear is inclosed in a bony chamber. Here the 
nerve endings receive the impressions of sound and transmit them 
to the brain. Separating the internal ear from the external ear is 
the tympanum, or ear drum. 



40 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

The Skin. 

101. The skin covers the external surface of the body. It 
varies in thickness according to the amount of protection the dif- 
ferent parts of the body require. The skin is the special organ of 
touch and is supplied with sensory nerves, particularly at the muz- 
zle and lips. The long hairs (feelers) growing from the muzzle, and 
in special nerve structures in the dermis. 

102. The skin consists of two parts; the outer, called the epider- 
mis, or cuticle; and the inner, the corium, dermis, or true skin. 

103. The epidermis is the outer protective covering. The hoof, 
ergot, and chestnuts are modifications of the epidermis. 

104. The dermis lies beneath the inner surface of the epidermie 
and continually replaces it as it is worm away. It contains the hair 
follicles, the sebaceous and the sweat glands. 

105. Hairs grow from the hair follicles, and form the outer pro- 
tective covering of the body known as the coat. The coat is shed 
twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, and is replaced by a 
lighter or heavier growth according to the season. 

106. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance which is 
formed within them. Where the skin is covered with hair the 
sebaceous fluid is discharged into the hair follicles. It softens and 
waterproofs the hair and surrounding skin, keeping them flexible 
and giving the hair the gloss that is seen in healthy animals. Where 
no hair is present the glands discharge directly on the surface ot 
the skin, keeping it soft and supple. 

107. The sweat glands are groups of cells which excrete sweat. 
They communicate with the outer surface by simple tubes which 
pour their excretions on the surface of the skin. Sweat consists of 
water and various salts and waste materials from the blood. It 
evaporates on the surface of the skin and assists in regulating the 
temperature of the body. 

The Foot. 

108. The foot is composed of four parts: the bones; the elastic 
structures; the corium; and the hoof, the protective organ of the foot. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



41 



Coronary 




Sok Curium of sole. 



Fig. 19.— Sagittal section of digit and distal part of metacarpus of horse. A , Meta- 
carpal bone; B, first phalanx, C, second phalanx; D, third phalanx; E, distal sesa- 
moid bone; 1, volar pouch of capsule of fetlock joint; 2, intersesamoidean ligament; 
3, 4, proximal end of digital synovial sheath; 5, ring formed by superficial flexor 
tendon; 6, fibrous tissue underlying ergot; 7, ergot; 8, 9, 9', branches of digital ves- 
sels; 10, distal ligament of distal sesamoid bone; 11, suspensory ligament of distal 
sesamoid bone; 12, 12', proximal and distal ends of bursa podotrochlearis. By an 
oversight the superficial flexor tendon (behind 4) is not marked. (From Sisson's 
Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



42 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

BONES OF THE FOOT. 

109. The bones of the pastern and foot are the first phalanx 
(long pastern bone), the second phalanx (short pastern bone), the 
third phalanx (coffin bone), and the navicular bone (distal sesamoid). 
The first two bones require no description. 

110. The third phalanx (coffin bone) is entirely inclosed by 
the hoof, which it resembles in shape. 

The upper or articular surface faces upward and backward and 
articulates with the second phalanx. Immediately behind and below 
this surface is a small area for the articulation of the navicular bone. 

The wall surface (front and sides) slopes downward and forward. 
It is roughened for the attachment of the laminar corium and perfo- 
rated by numerous small openings for the passage of blood vessels and 
nerves. At the top of this surface, in front, is a ridge to which the 
tendon of the extensor of the foot is attached. 

The under surface corresponds in shape to the sole of the hoof. 
It is smooth except at the back part, which is roughened for the 
attachment of the tendon of the deep flexor of the foot. 

The wings (angles) one on either side, project backward and give 
attachment on their upper borders to the cartilages of the foot. 

111. The navicular bone (distal sesamoid) is shuttle-shaped, 
and lies behind the junction of the second and third phalanges with 
which it articulates. The deep flexor tendon of the foot passes over 
its lower surface. 

THE ELASTIC STRUCTURES OF THE FOOT. 

112. The cartilages of the third phalanx, also known as the 
lateral cartilages (fig. 21), are large elastic plates of cartilage, attached 
one to either wing of the bone. They project backward and upward, 
their upper borders extending above the hoof, where they may be felt 
beneath the skin above the coronet at the heels. 

113. The digital cushion (plantar cushion) (fig. 19), the prin- 
cipal elastic structu-e of the foot, is a wedge-shaped pad, situated 
above the frog, below the deep flexor tendon of the foot, and between 
the cartilages of the third phalanx. The apex or points is directed 
forward and lies just below the lower end of the deep flexor tendon. 
The base or back part lies under the skin of the heels. The digital 
cushion acts as a buffer to the foot and prevents jar. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



43 



Distal end of frrgf w< (amrpal boric 




Dhlul end of first phalanx - 
Proximal end of $< rond phalanx _ 



IHnlal 



DotM 



Angb- 



Distal harder of third ■nhahnrx 



Fig. 20.— Skeleton of digit and distal part of metacarpus of horse, lateral view. 1-7, 
Eminences and depression for attachment of ligaments. Cartilage of third phalanx 
is removed. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. 
Saunders Co.) 



44 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Cartilage 




h Dorsal Angle 



Distal l» 



Uaterai UaametU, 



Fig. 21.— Third phalanx of horse, lateral view, a, b, Anterior and posterior extremi- 
ties of cartilage. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, 
W.B.Saunders Co.) 




*■ — Outline of hoof 



Fig. 22.— Lateral view of foot of horse after removal of hoof and part of skin. (After 
Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) Dotted lines in front of navicular bone 
indicate position of coffin joint. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Ani- 
mals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



45 



THE CORIUM. 



114. The corium of the hoof is the highly vascular part of the 
corium or dermis of the skin which completely covers the coffin bone, 
the digital cushion, and a large surface of the cartilages of the foot. 
It furnishes nutrition to the hoof, and is divided into five parts 
which nourish corresponding parts of the hoof. 



Per top! ic corium 
Coronary corium 






^- Pcriap 


lor 


ntlb 


LaMnar corium-. 




li^M 








■ Cerium of frog i 




IB 


B— Angle of watt 






Position of navicular boneZ. 
Corium of sole — 




Ej JK 


9 — Angle of sole 






Position of insertion of ~~ 
deep flexor tendon 












Wh 


its line . 










Basal border 


of wall 








-~7~ 









Fig. 23.— Ground surface of foot of horse after removal of half of hoof to show corium. 
(After Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) (From Sisson's Anatomy of the 
Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B. Saunders Co.) 

_ (a) The perioplic corium or ring (figs. 22, 23) is a narrow band which 
lies in a groove at the upper border of the wall. At the heels it 
widens and blends with the corium of the frog. It supplies nutrition 
to the periople. 

(6) The coronary corium or ring (figs. 22, 23) is a thick band which 
occupies the coronary groove on the inside of the upper border of 
the wall. It furnishes nutrition to the bulk of the wall. 



46 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



(c) The laminar corium (sensitive laminae) (fig. 22) is attached to 
the wall surface of the third phalanx and to the lower part of its 
cartilages. It bears numerous delicate folds or laminae which 




Fig. 24.— Digit of horse, showing surface relations of bones 
and joints. The cartilage is largely exposed, a, First 
phalanx; 6, second phalanx; c, third phalanx; d, cartilage; 
e, distal sesamoid or navicular bone; /, pastern joint; g, 
coffin joint; h', cut edge of wall of hoof (A); i, laminar 
corium. ( After Ellenberger in Leisering's Atlas.) (From 
Sisson's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals; copyright, 
W. B.Saunders Co.) 

interleave with the horny laminae of the wall and bars. They (the 
laminae of the corium) supply nourishment to the horny laminae 
and to the horn of the white line. By their intimate union with the 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 47 

laminae of the wall they support the weight of the body within the 
hoof. 

(d) The corium of the sole (sensitive sole) (figs. 19, 23) corresponds 
to the horny sole, to which is supplies nutrition. 

(e) The corium of the frog (sensitive frog) (fig. 23) is molded on the 
upper surface of the frog and is attached to the under surface of the 
digital cushion. It nourishes the frog. 

THE HOOF. 

115. The hoof is the horny covering of the foot. It is divided 
into three parts, the wall, sole, and frog. 

(a) The wall is that part of the hoof which is visible when the foot 
is placed on the ground. It covers the front and sides of the foot, 
and is bent abruptly inward and forward at the heels to form the 
bars. The latter appear on the bottom of the foot as horny ridges 
which extend forward and inward toward the point of the frog. 
The bars secure a solid bearing for the back part of the foot; they 
give additional strength to the hoof, and, being a part of the wall, 
are intended to bear weight. For convenience in study the wall 
may be divided into three parts, the toe, quarters, and heels. 

The toe is the front part of the wall. 

The quarters, one on either side, extend backward from the toe 
to the heels. 

The heels are the hindermost part of the foot. They are located at 
the point where the wall bends inward to become the bars. 

The external surface is smooth, and its upper portion is covered 
with a thin layer of soft horn called the periople. Extending from 
the periople to the bottom of the foot is a thin layer of horny scales 
which gives the surface of the wall its smooth, glossy appearance. 

The internal surface is concave from side to side, and presents about 
600 thin, white, parallel plates of horn called laminae, which extend 
from the coronary groove to the bottom of the wall. These horny 
laminae dovetail with the corresponding laminae of the corium and 
bind the wall of the hoof to the third phalanx and the greater part 
of its cartilages. 

The upper or coronary border is thin, and its outer surface is covered 
by the periople. The inner side of this border is hollowed out to 
form the coronary groove, which extends all the way round the top 
of the wall and contains the thick coronary corium. 

106233°— 17 i 



48 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



• Fl ^'i 25- ~ RIgh x t for , e , h00f of , hors e, ground surface. 1, Basal or ground border of wall- 
k SSK' Jf '' Jf an , g \ e °. f Wall; hP™> 5 > sole = 5 '- angle of sole" VwhiL toe 
S,w c l°? Wal1 and sole); 7, apex of fro-; 5, central sulcus of frog; 9, 9, collateral 
tw.£? W A e ^ fr °, g and bars ;^ ir ^, bulbs of hoof. (From Sisson's Anatomy of the 
Domestic Animals; copyright, W. B.Saunders Co.) 




Sole 

Fig. 26.— Foot of the Horse. 

I, Metacarpal hone ; 2, exteHsor tendon ; 3, coronary corium ; 4. laminar corium 
5, wall ;• 6, laminae; 7, volar nerve; 8, metacarpal vein; 9, digital artery 
10, superficial flexor tendon; 11, frog. '(From "Diseases of the Horse." U. S 
Department of Agriculture. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 49 

The lower or ground border comes in contact with the ground, and 
is the part to which the shoe is fitted. Its inner surface is united 
with the outer border of the sole by a soft, white horn, which appears 
on the bottom of the foot as the so-called white line. 

(b) The sole is a thick, half-moon-shaped plate of horn forming 
the greater part of the bottom of the foot. Its outer border is joined 
to the inner part of the lower border of the wall by the previously 
mentioned white line. 

Its inner border it V-shaped, and is attached to the bars, except 
at its narrow part, where it joins the point of the frog. 

The use of the sole is to protect the sensitive parts above. It is 
not intended to bear weight, except on a margin about one-eighth 
of an inch wide inside of the white line. 

(c) The frog is a wedge-shaped mass of soft horn which occupies 
the V-shaped space bounded by the bars and sole, and extends 
below these on the bottom of the foot. 

On the lower or ground surface are two prominent ridges, separated 
behind by a cavity called the cleft, and joined in front to form the 
apex or point of the frog. 

The base or posterior extremity is depressed in the center and 
bulged at the sides, where it unites with the wall at the heels, form- 
ing two round prominences called the bulbs of the hoof. 

The upper surface of the frog is the exact. reverse of the lower and 
shows a middle ridge, the spine or frog-stay . Between the sides of 
the frog and the bars are two cavities called the commissures. 

The frog protects the sensitive structures above, acts as a pad in 
assisting the digital cushion in breaking jar, and prevents the foot 
from slipping. The frog-stay forms a firm union between the frog 
and the frog corium above. It may also assist in the expansion of 
the foot by being forced like a wedge into the digital cushion when 
the foot comes to the ground. 

EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE HOOF. 

116. Expansion. — When weight is placed on the foot it is re- 
ceived by a yielding joint (coffin joint), an elastic wall, the rubber- 
like frog, the digital cushion, and the more or less yielding sole. 
The digital cushion and the frog are compressed between the ground 
below and the structures above, which causes them to spread out 
sidewise, carrying with them the cartilages and bars and the wall 



50 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

at the quarters. This is called expansion, and amounts to about 
one-twenty-fifth of an inch total increase in width of the foot at the 
heel. 

117. Contraction. — When weight is removed from the foot, the 
digital cushion and frog return to their normal shape, and the car- 
tilages and quarters move inward to where they were before expan- 
sion occurred. This is called contraction. 

118. The benefits derived from these movements are many; 
they diminish jar or shock to the foot and leg, and prevent the evil 
results of concussion; they increase the elasticity of the entire limb, 
and assist in the circulation of the blood in the foot. 



CHAPTER II. 

NAMES AND CONFORMATION OF EXTERNAL REGIONS- 
APPEARANCES OF HEALTH. 

Names and Conformation of External Regions. 

119. The external regions and structures of the body should 
present the following appearances: 

HEAD AND NECK 

Head. — Clear cut, lean, straight, and of proportionate size. 

Forehead. — Broad, full, and flat. 

Face. — Straight. When convex (bulging) the horse is said to have 
a Roman nose. A concave (hollow) face is called a dish face. 

Lower jaw. — Wide and strong, with plenty of space between its 
branches for the larynx. 

Muzzle. — The muzzle includes the nostrils and the lips. 

Lips. — Small, thin, and firm. 

Nostrils. — Large and free from coarse hairs in their entrances. 

Eyes. — Large, clear, bright, prominent, and free from cloudiness 
and 'spots; lids thin, well open, and evenly curved. 

Ears. — Medium size, pointed, fine, set moderately close, and 
carried erect. 

Poll. — Smooth and free from enlargements and scars. 

Throat and parotid region. — Clean and free from swollen or en- 
larged glands. 

Neck. — Of moderate length, well muscled, clean, well arched, 
nicely set on, and not too narrow just in rear of the throat; windpipe 
large and prominent; a neck with a concave upper border is known 
as an ewe neck. 

Mane. — Fine and silky. 

Jugular channel. — Free from enlargements, smooth, and clean. 

120. Forehand. 

Withers. — Extending well back, muscular, neither too high nor 
too low, and free from scars. 



52 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Shoulders. — For cavalry horses, long, sloping, and well muscled. 
For artillery and draft horses, they should be more nearly upright 
and their front line clearly marked with a smooth, even surface and 
free from excessive muscular development at a point marked "A," 
figure 27, which prevents a close fit of the collar. 




Fig. 27.— External regions of the horse. 1, Lips; 2, muzzle; 3, face; 4, forehead; 5, 
eyebrows; 6, forelock; 7, ears; 8, lower jaw; 9, cheek; 10, nostril; 11, poll; 11a, throat; 
12, parotid; 13, neck; 13a, mane; 14, jugular channel; 15, breast (front of chest); 16, 
withers; 17, back; 18, ribs, or barrel; 19, girth; 20, loins; 21, croup; 22, tail; 23, dock; 
24, flank; 25, belly; 26, sheath; 27, testicles; 28, point of shoulder; 28a, shoulder; 286, 
arm; 29. elbow; 30, forearm; 31. chestnut; 32, knee; 33, cannon; 34, fetlock joint; 
35, pastern; 36, coronet; 37, foot; 38. fetlock; 39, haunch (point of hip); 40, thigh; 
41, stifle; 42, buttock; 43, gaskin; 44, hock; 44a, point of hock; 45, chestnut; 46, 
cannon; 47, fetlock joint; 48, fetlock; 49, pastern; 50, coronet; 51, foot. 

Arms. — Short, muscular, and set well forward. 
Elbows. — Large and long and clear of the chest. 
Forearms. — Long, broad, and well muscled. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 53 

Knees. — Straight, broad, deep, and free from puffiness, scars and 
swellings. A knee bent backwards is called a calf knee. The op- 
posite condition is known as knee-sprung or over in the knees. 

Cannons. — Short, broad, flat, and of uniform size. Tendons smooth, 
and well set back. If smaller below the knee than elsewhere, the 
leg is said to be tied in below the knee. 

Fetlocks. — Wide, smooth, well supported, and free from puffy- 
swellings. 

Pasterns. — Of moderate length, smooth, free from enlargements, 
and forming an angle of form 45° to 50° with the ground. 

Feet. — Of proportionate size, uniform, and circular; heels wide, 
and one-third the height of the toe; walls smooth and free from 
cracks, fissures, and rings; bars strong, sole concave, frog large and 
elastic, horn dense and tough. 

Legs. — Viewed from the front, vertical, with toes pointing straight 
to the front. Viewed from the side, slightly inclined to the rear. 
When the toe points obliquely forward and inward, the animal is 
said to be pigeon-toed. The opposite condition is known as toe out 
or splayfooted. 

121. Body. 

Breast and chest. — Of moderate width and considerable depth for 
cavalry horses. Both deep and wide for draft horses. The girth is 
the measure around the body at the chest. It should be large. 

Ribs. — Long, well arched, close together. Last rib close to the 
point of the hip. 

Back. — Short, straight, broad, well muscled, and free from en- 
largements and scars. A concave back is called a sway back. A 
convex back is called a roach back. 

Loins. — Broad, short, strong, and well muscled. 

Flanks. — Close, full (not hollowed out), and deep. 

Underline of the chest and belly. — Long and well let down. When 
this line passes obliquely backward and upward, the horse is said 
to be herring gutted. 

122. Hindquarters. 

Croup. — Long, rounded, and sloping slightly downward. When it 
droops and becomes narrow below the tail the horse is said to be 
goose rumped. 

Haunch (point of hip). — Not too prominent, yet not drooped or 
sunken. 

Dock. — Large and muscular. 

Tail. — Set fairly high, and carried well away from the body. 
Hairs fine and silk v . 



54 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Thighs and buttocks. — Long and muscular, muscles extending well 
down into the gaskin. When the muscles of the inner side of the 
thighs are but little developed, the horse is said to be split up behind. 

Stifles. — Large, broad, well muscled, and free from pumness. 

Gaskins. — Long, broad, and muscular. 

Hocks. — Large, wide, deep from front to rear, smooth, well sup- 
ported, and free from puffy swellings and bony enlargements; point 
prominent, clean , and standing well away from the joint. The hocks 
should stand well apart, but not enough to give the horse the appear- 
ance of being bow-legged. When the hocks stand close together and 
the hind feet well apart, with the toes turned out, the horse is said 
to be cow hocked. The term sickle hock is applied to hocks that ap- 
pear overly bent when viewed from the side. 

Cannons. — Short, wide, and flat; tendons smooth and well defined, 
and the line from the point of the hock to the fetlock straight, and 
nearly perpendicular. 

Fetlocks. — Large, wide, well supported, and free from puffy swell- 
ings. When the fetlock is inclined too far forward, the condition is 
called cocked ankle. 

Pasterns. — Of moderate length, large, free from enlargements, and 
inclined at an angle of from 50° to 55° with the ground. 

Feet. — Same as fore feet, except that the shape is oval, the sole more 
concave, and the wall more nearly vertical. 

Appearances of Health. 

123. Manner of standing. — Fore feet square and firm on the 
ground ; one hind foot may or may not be resting on the toe. A fore 
leg is never rested unless injured, diseased, or greatly fatigued. In 
the latter condition the feet are alternately lifted and replaced in 
position by a slow and regular stamping movement. The head is 
held erect, the eyes are wide open and there is a lively play of the 
ears. 

124. Skin. — Loose, supple, and easily moved about over the struc- 
tures beneath. 

125. Coat. — Smooth, sleek, and glossy. In cold weather, unless 
blankets are used, the hair stands upright, the coat becomes heavy 
and coarse and loses its gloss. 

126. Pulse. — Strong, full, regular, and beating from 36 to 40 times 
a minute. The number of beats is increased by exercise, excite- 
ment, and disease. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 55 

The pulse is taken by placing the fore or middle finger trans- 
versely (crosswise) on the submaxillary artery at the margin of the 
lower jaw, and counting the pulsations for half a minute and then 
multiplying the result by two. 

127. Respiration. — Free, soft, and noiseless. Number of respira- 
tions per minute : 

At rest 10-12 

Walking 200 yards 28 

Trotting 5 minutes 52 

Galloping 5 minutes 52 

After exercise the breaching should subside quickly to normal. 
The ratio of respiration to the beat of the heart is about one respira- 
tion to four heartbeats. 

The respirations are counted by watching the rise and fall of the 
flank, the movements of the nostrils, or, on a cold day, the steamy 
expiration of the breath. 

128. Temperature. — Varies from 99° to 100° F. It is increased 
by exercise, excitement, and disease. Age has a slight influence, 
the temperature being higher in young animals and lower in old ones. 
In the Tropics it may average as high as 100.5° F. 

The temperature is taken with a clinical thermometer in the 
rectum. The thermometer is moistened or oiled, the mercury is 
shaken down to 96 or below, and the bulb of the thermometer is 
inserted into the anus, and allowed to remain three minutes, when 
it is withdrawn and the temperature noted. 

129. Defectation — Occurs from 10 to 12 times in 24 hours, the 
droppings being fairly well formed, free from offensive odor, and 
varying in color from yellow to green, according to the nature of the 
food. The amount of feces passed in 24 hours varies from 36 to 40 
pounds, depending upon the size of the animal and the amount of 
food given. 

130. Urination. — UriDe is passed several times daily, in quan- 
tities of a quart or more. It is a thick yellowish fluid, and the quan- 
tity passed in 24 hours varies from 3 to 6 quarts. During the act of 
urination horses straddle, grunt, and assume a veryawkward position, 
which must not be mistaken for pain . 



CHAPTER III. 
STABLE HYGIENE— CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED. 

Stable Hygiene. 

131. Ventilation. — The object of ventilation is to supply pure 
air to the lungs, to dilute and remove the products of respiration, 
and the ordor and gases arising from the fluid and solid excrements 
which have been evacuated by the occupants of the building. 

132. Composition of air. — Pure air consists of: 

Parts. 

Oxygen 2, 096 

Nitrogen 7, 900 

Carbonic acid 4 

Total 10, 000 

It also contains a small quantity of watery vapor. 

Oxygen is the chief useful part of the air for purifying the blood. 
Nitrogen dilutes the oxygen and renders it respirable. The amount 
of carbonic acid is very small, but if it rises beyond 6 parts in 10,000 
the air is impure and unfit to breathe. 

Air is rendered impure by the respiration of men and animals, its 
carbonic acid and watery vapor are increased, its oxygen diminished, 
and a proportion of organic matter added to it. So long as respira- 
tion is occurring in the open air these impurities are gotten rid of as 
fast as they are formed, but in the air of buildings it is different, for 
here they accumulate unless means are at hand for getting rid of 
them. The employment of such means is known as ventilation. 

133. Testing the ventilation. — The proper time to test the 
ventilation is in the morning before the doors are opened. If on 
entering the stable a sense of stuffiness is detected, the ventilation 
is defective, and more air must be supplied.. 

134. Draft and chill. — A draft is a current of air passing through 
a confined space, such as a window or door, at such a rate as to pro- 
duce a feeling of cold when it strikes the skin. The effect of such a 
draft on a warm skin is to drive the blood into the internal organs 
and produce chill and shivering. Tying animals in a draft must 
therefore be carefully avoided. 

56 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 57 

135. Windows and roof ventilators. — In calm weather the 
windows and ventilators should always be kept open. During 
storms they should be closed on the windward side only. When 
the storm ceases they should all be opened again. In warm weather 
the doors should also be kept open. 

136. Temperature of stable air. — Horses suffer very little 
from cold; they stand changes of temperature remarkably well, and 
chills from standing in a draft when heated and tired are the only 
changes of temperature which are likely to produce sickness . Stables 
are therefore not intended to keep animals warm, but to protect them 
from draft and storm. 

Hot stables produce a fine glossy coat, cause the animals to put on 
fat, but also lower their vitality and increase their susceptibility 
to disease. Cold stables produce a rough heavy coat, there is not 
much tendency to put on fat, and the animals require more to eat, 
owing to the increased demand on the heat-producing function. 
They are healthier, however, and better able to stand exposure and 
hardships, such as animals of the military service may at any time 
be called upon to do. 

When new horses are put for the first time in the stable, or when 
older horses return from maneuvers or duty in the field, the greatest 
care should be taken with regard to ventilation. Every door and 
every window should be left open or for a certainty they will con- 
tract a catarrh. 

137. Care of stalls and floors. — As soon as the horses are 
through feeding in the morning they should be removed from the 
stable and the stalls thoroughly cleaned. At the same time the 
doors and windows should be opened to thoroughly air and dry out 
the building. 

Mangers and feed boxes must be kept clean. Hay and grain that 
have been left in them should be removed and the boxes washed at 
least once a week, and always after bran mashes have been fed. 

The bedding is carefully shaken out and sorted, and all parts 
which can be used again are put to one side. 

Manure and waste bedding must be taken to the manure heap 
daily. 

138. Cement, brick, and stone floors, during warm weather 
and in the Tropics, are best cleaned by scrubbing with water, using 
the hose and stable brooms where available, the floors being allowed 
to dry before putting down the bedding. In cold weather this is 



58 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

not practicable, and the cleaning should be done by scraping with 
a hoe or shovel and sweeping with a stable broom. 

If the floors become slippery from ice, sand or sifted ashes should 
be put on them before the bedding is put down; this to prevent 
injury to the horses from slipping. 

Should the floors wear smooth and become slippery, the surface 
should be roughened by chipping with a stone or cold chisel and 
mallet. The chisel can be made by the troop blacksmith. 

When for any purpose the horses are tied in during the day, the 
stalls should be cleaned again as soon as the horses are turned out. 

139. Dirt floors. — Dirt floors require continual work to keep 
them in good condition. As soon as wet spots or depressions form 
they should be dug out and filled with fresh clay well wet and 
tamped in. The front of the stall floor should be 2 inches higher 
than the floor at the rear. 

140. Bedding. — The monthly allowance of bedding is 100 pounds 
of straw or hay for each horse, or 3£ pounds daily. To give animals 
a good bed, this must be used as economically as possible. 

During pleasant weather all parts of the bedding which can be 
used again are taken out and spread on the bedding racks to dry. 
In the evening it is returned to the stalls and enough fresh straw or 
bedding added to make a comfortable bed . Habitually the bedding 
should be put down just before the horses are tied in for the night. 
Putting it down in the morning prevents the stalls drying out and 
allows the stable police to conceal the fact that they have neglected 
to clean the stables properly. 

141. Care of the corral. — The corral should be cleaned twice a 
day, once at morning stables and again in the evening after the 
horses have been tied in for the night. 

Thorough drainage^ should be provided, and all depressions kept 
filled, so that after rains no pools of standing water may remain. 

The picket line should be drawn tight and raised high enough so 
that the horses can not rub themselves on it. Seven feet from the 
ground is about the proper height. The fastenings at the end of 
the line should be outside the corral. 

The floor of the picket line should be raised and trenches to carry 
off the rain should be provided so that the ground on which the 
horses stand may be kept dry. 

142. Water troughs. — Water troughs should be emptied and 
thoroughly cleaned each morning. Under no circumstances should 
strange animals be permitted to drink at the water trough or be fed 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 59 

in the stable, as one animal with a contagious disease may infect 
all the animals of the organization. 

143. Grooming. — Grooming is essential to the health and appear 
ance of the domesticated horse. Its objects are cleanliness, preven- 
tion of disease, particularly of the skin, and the improvement of- 
the animal's general condition. While many diseases are not the 
direct result of dirt, it is nevertheless true that they are most fre- 
quently found where dirty conditions prevail. 

Horses should be thoroughly groomed at least once a day, and this 
should be immediately af;ter exercise or work. They should also 
be brushed off before going to drill or exercise. 

The idle horse should be groomed the same as the rest. 

Mud should be wisped off with hay or straw, or it should be allowed 
to dry, then removed with a brush. 

144. Wet horses. — Wet horses should be dried before being 
groomed or left tied up to the line or in the stable. If wet from rain 
or by washing, wisping with loose straw and lively rubbing with 
grooming rags or pieces of gunny sacking is a good method of making 
them dry and warm. 

145. Sweating horses. — Sweating horses should be blanketed 
and walked about until cool, then rubbed and wisped until dry. 
Returning horses from work wet with sweat may be avoided by 
allowing them to walk the last half mile or so of the return journey. 

146. Hand rubbing. — Hand rubbing is most soothing and rest- 
ful to tired muscles and limbs. It also removes the loose hair and 
produces a smooth glossy coat. 

To remove hair and stimulate the skin, the hands are slapped 
down briskly on the coat one after the other, the weight of the body 
is thrown against them, while both are moved over the skin with 
firm pressure. 

The legs should be rubbed briskly with the fingers and palms in 
the direction of the hair. After rubbing, the legs should be care- 
fully bandaged, taking care that the bandages are not too tight. 

147. Washing horses. — As a general practice this should not 
be allowed except in warm climates, and then only when the tem- 
perature of the air and the water used is approximately the same as 
that of the body. In cold and changeable climates washing may 
cause chilling and lead to sickness, usually respiratory diseases and 
chapping of the skin. 

When horses are washed, great care must be taken that they are 
thoroughly dried by wisping and rubbing and that they are not 



60 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

exposed to drafts before being dried . Washing mud off the legs and 
belly frequently results in such diseases as scratches, grease heel, 
and mud fever. These conditions are not caused by the mud, but 
are the result of improperly drying the legs after washing. When 
mud can not be wisped off with hay or straw it should be allowed to 
dry, then removed with a brush. If for any reason the legs must be 
washed they should be dried and bandaged loosely with flannel 
bandages. When the bandages are removed the legs should be hand 
rubbed thoroughly. 

Soap should not be used on the legs, as this removes the natural 
greasiness of the coat and irritates the skin. 

148. Clipping. — Clipping in the spring is especially advisable, 
and in individual cases and under certain circumstances it may 
become a necessity ; but no horse should be clipped without authority 
from the organization commander. In winter a clipped horse should 
be provided with a blanket at all times when not working. Under 
no circumstances should a horse be blanketed while at work. 

Horses taken from cold regions to the Tropics still develop their 
winter coats. Under such conditions clipping is a necessity. 

Should it become necessary to keep horses clipped, they should 
be clipped at least three times a year; the first time in October or 
November, again in January, and a third time in March or April or 
just before the spring shedding of the coat. Better still, the clippers 
should be run over the coat every time it appears at all long. 

In clipping the legs, care should be taken not to cut the short hairs 
at the back of the pasterns or in the hollows of the heels. These 
hairs when clipped irritate the skin and may cause scratches. 

149. Blanketing. — Horses stand changes of temperature and 
inclement weather remarkably well. Blankets therefore are not 
absolutely essential to the animal's health. 

In garrison and camp, except in extremely cold climates, the use 
of blankets should be limited to animals that have been clipped, and 
to those that have become chilled, wet, or heated. They should be 
worn in the stable or camp only, and should never be permitted 
while horses are at exercise or work. 

All blankets should be shaken daily and aired. 

150. Care of one feet. — The healthy foot requires only to be 
kept clean. In cold climates the feet need be cleaned but once 
a day; but in hot, damp climates, where there is a great amount of 
decomposing matter in the soil, they should be well cleaned out both 
morning and evening. The evening cleaning should be done after 
the horses are tied in for the night. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 61 

The cleaning is done with the hoof-hook, the point of which should 
be blunted so as not to tear away the horn of the commissures and 
cleft of the frog. 

151. Cleaning the sheath. — The sheath should be cleaned 
occasionally by washing. Some horses require it more often than 
others, and especially is it required during hot and dusty weather. 
In the Tropics and during certain seasons of the year, the presence 
of screw-worms and maggots from the attacks of flies renders close 
attention to this detail very necessary. In some horses a thick 
cheesy-like substance accumulates at the end of the penis on either 
side of the urethra forming the so-called bean, which may interfere 
with urination. 

The bean should be carefully removed and the penis and inside of 
the sheath well cleaned with warm water and castile soap . When the 
parts are thoroughly cleaned, rinse with a warm creolin solution 
(1-100) and dry. In cold weather drying must be done with great 
care in order to prevent chilling. To avoid injuring the sheath and 
penis, the finger nails of the man doing the washing must be cut short 
and made smooth . 

152. Salting. — A lump of salt should be kept in each feed box. 
If salt is kept in the corral, it should be in a waterproof box protected 
from rain, for if exposed to moisture it will melt and run on the 
ground. The ground becoming salty around the box, the horses 
acquire the habit of licking it and eating the dirt. 

Loose salt only should be given in the field. 

The daily allowance of salt for each public animal is 0.8 ounce. 

153. Water. — A horse requires from 5 to 15 gallons of water daily, 
depending upon the temperature and the amount of work he is doing. 
On board ship 10 gallons daily should be provided. 

Water should be fresh, pure, and clear, and free from taste, color, 
and smell. 

154. Watering. — Horses should be watered before feeding, or, 
if this is impossible, not until two hours after feeding. They may 
be watered while at work, but, if hot, they should be kept moving 
until cooled off. 

In temperate climates, horses should be watered three times a day, 
morning, noon, and evening. 

In the Tropics and during warm weather, horses, except when they 
are heated, should have free access to water at all times. 

In winter, horses that are tired or heated should be given water 
that has been slightly warmed . In warm weather and in the Tropics, 



62 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

they may at all times be permitted to drink freely of water that is of 
the same temperature as that of the air. 

In taking horses to water, they should go at a walk. There should 
be no crowding or hurrying, and each animal should be given plenty 
of time to drink his fill. 

In camp, where water is obtained from a river or a stream, horses 
must be watered above the place designated for bathing and for 
washing clothing. 

In watering from streams whose bottoms are of mud or fine sand, 
causing the water to become roily, buckets or improvised troughs 
should be used. 

155. Feeding. — Forage is any food suitable for horses and can 
be divided into two general classes, hay and grain. The ration must 
be sufficiently bulky to keep the stomach and intestines partially 
filled at all times, as the process of digestion is best carried out in 
this state. Without sufficient bulk, conditions can not be main- 
tained, no matter how nourishing the food. 

The capacity of the horse's stomach is small in comparison to his 
size. He therefore requires to be fed frequently. 

156. Feeding tired horses. — Exhausting work has a temporary 
weakening effect on the digestion, and tired horses should be allowed 
to recover from its effect before they are given a heavy feed of grain. 
Give such animals plenty of tepid water, a few pounds of hay, and 
good care until the system has recovered from exhaustion. 

Animals that have been kept from food for a long time should 
first be watered and given a small feed of hay to partially fill the 
stomach before feeding grain. 

157. Feeding hay. — It is best not to give any hay at the feed 
immediately preceding the time at which animals are to be required 
for work, especially work at the fast gaits. "When the work is done 
mostly in the morning, 3 to 4 pounds of hay may be fed to advantage 
with the noon feed of grain, the remainder of the hay ration being 
given with the evening feed. 

158. Feeding grain. — Grain should be fed three times daily, 
giving the largest feed at night. Should it become necessary to 
change the grain ration, as from oats to corn, the allowance of grain 
should be cut down to one-half, and the amount gradually increased 
until the animals become accustomed to it. When two different 
grains, such as corn and oats, are issued, they should be fed sepa- 
rately, feeding the corn at night as it takes longer to thoroughly 
masticate and digest it. If corn and oats are fed together, the corn 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 63 

being the harder will not be properly masticated, and a portion of 
its nutriment will be lost. To get the best results, horses should 
be fed at regular hours, and it is absolutely necessary that the food 
be pure, clean, and sound. 

159. Time required for eating. — It takes a horse from 5 to 
10 minutes to eat 1 pound of grain, and from 15 to 20 minutes to eat 
1 pound of hay. 

160. The forage ration. — The forage ration for a horse is 14 
pounds of hay and 12 pounds of oats, corn, or barley; for a field artil- 
lery horse of the heavy draft type weighing 1,300 pounds or over, 
17 pounds of hay and 14 pounds of oats, corn, or barley; for a mule, 
14 pounds of hay and 9 pounds of oats, corn, or barley. To each 
animal 3 pounds of bran may be issued in lieu of that quantity of 
grain. 

161. Hay. — Hay is any good grass cut at the proper time and well 
cured. 

162. Characteristics of good hay. — Good hay should be mod- 
erately fine, somewhat hard to the touch, sound, sweet smelling, 
well cured, and free from weeds. The color should be a bright 
natural green, and should give an idea of newness. The flowering 
heads of the grasses ought to be present and should not shell out 
when rubbed. When chewed, it should have a mild, pleasant taste. 

163. Defects in hay. — Hay may be badly cured, overripe, mow 
burned, caked in the bale, dusty, musty, or moldy. All such hay 
is unfit to use and should be put aside and reported to the organi- 
zation commander. 

164. Badly saved hay. — Badly saved hay is such as results from 
getting wet while being cured. If not dusty or moldy, it may be 
fed, but it does not have the full nutritive value. 

165. Overripe hay. — Overripe hay is yellow, dry, and hard, 
with the leaves broken off and the heads shelled out. Such hay is 
of no more value than straw. 

166. Mow-burned hay. — Mow-burned hay is the result of over- 
heating in the stack, due to being stored away while damp. Such 
hay varies in color from light brown to dark, or almost black. The 
etalk is dry and brittle with a bitter, pungent odor and taste. Such 
hay should not be used as it may produce digestive derangements 
and kidney diseases. 

167. Hay caked in the bale.— Baled hay that externally has 
a good appearance but does not spring apart when the wires are 
taken off has been baled wet, and presents the same appearance as 
mow-burned hay. Such hay is unfit for use. 

106233°— 17 5 



64 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

168. Dusty hay. — Dusty hay, due to gradual dry decay from 
long exposure to the sun or attacks of insects, produces dry coughs 
and digestive derangements and should not be used. 

169. Musty and moldy hay. — Musty or moldy hay is readily 
recognized by the presence of the white mold on the leaves and 
stalks; when shaken, it gives off a very irritating dust. This hay 
is bitter to the taste and its use is dangerous. Where no other hay 
or roughage is available, it may be used, but it must be opened out 
and dried, well shaken to get rid of the mold, and wet with salt 
water — a tablespoonful of salt to a bucket of water. Its effect must 
be carefully^ watched and it should be fed only when no other hay 
can be obtained. 

Horses can not be fed on grain alone, so if hay is not obtainable a 
substitute must be found. 

170. Grain hay.— -Hay made from oats, wheat, and barley, cut 
before it is matured is frequently used. Such hay contains a pro- 
portion of grain which reduces the bulk of the ration. To allow for 
this the grain ration should be reduced about 3 pounds and the 
hay increased the same amount. 

171. Straw. — Clean straw of oats, wheat, barley, and rye, and, 
in the Tropics, rice straw maybe fed when hay can not be obtained, 
but it must be clean, sound, and free from dirt and weeds. Dried 
corn fodder may also be used as a substitute for hay. 

172. Green forage. — When green grass or green corn fodder is 
fed in lieu of hay, the average proportion allowed is 3 pounds of 
green food to 1 pound of hay, or 42 pounds of green food daily. 
Care must be taken that green foods are not piled up and allowed to 
heat before feeding, for this will cause scouring and colic. 

173. Grazing. — Grazing is very beneficial and advantage should 
be taken of every opportunity to give the horses a bite of grass. 
In turning horses out for the first time to graze, care must be taken 
that they do not overeat. 

Grazing on wetor frosted alfalfa or clover must not be permitted, 
as flatulent colic is almost sure to result. 

174. Grains. — Grains are not the natural food of the horse, 
but they are necessary to obtain from horses the maximum amount 
of energy they are capable of yielding. All grains do not have 
the same feeding value; oats, corn, and barley have been found 
to give the best results. 

175. Oats. — Oats are the best and most valuable grain for horses. 
The oat is composed of two parts, the hull or husk and the kernel. 
The larger the kernel, in proportion to the hull, the better the oat. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 65 

The husk is thinner in white oats than in the red and black varieties. 
The short plump oat is a heavy one, while the longer and more 
bearded the oat, the lighter it is. 

176. Weight of oats. — The legal weight of a bushel of oats is 
32 pounds, but northern oats often weigh as much as 45 pounds to 
the bushel. 

177. Feeding- oats. — Oats are fed whole, it being only necessary 
to grind, crush, or steam them for animals with poor teeth. 

178. Characteristics of oats. — Oats should be short and plump, 
of good color, hard to the feel, rattling when poured out on a solid 
surface, without smell, breaking across when bitten, and having 
the taste of good oatmeal. They should also be free from dirt, 
stalks, stems, and seeds of other plants. 

179. Defects in oats. — Oats may be clipped, foxy, bleached or 
sulphured, damp, sprouting, musty, or moldy. All defective grain 
should be put aside and reported at once. 

180. Clipped oats. — Clipped oats are oats from which the beards 
have been removed by passing them over a revolving screen. This 
process produces a shorter, plumper looldng grain, which packs 
better and weighs more to the bushel. The cut ends may be seen, 
and if the hand is put deep into the sack the clipped beards may be 
found adhering to it on removal. If such oats are clean and sound, 
the process does not detract from their value as a food. 

181. Foxy oats. — When oats are stored before they are suffi- 
ciently dried, they become heated, their color is changed to a 
deep yellow or brown, both the husk and the kernel, and they 
acquire a peculiar bitter odor and taste. Such oats are termed 
foxy. They are unfit for food. 

182. Bleached or sulphured oats. — Foxy oats are sometimes 
bleached with the fumes of sulphur to destroy their color and smell, 
but the process does not remove the stain or bitter taste from the 
kernel. To detect this fraud, rub a small quantity of the suspected 
oats between the palms of the hands until they become warm, 
or heat over a fire; when warmed they give off the characteristic 
odor of sulphur. Such oats are not fit to use. 

183. Damp oats. — When oats have been wet and sufficient time 
has not elapsed to allow of their heating and spoiling, they may be 
fed, even though soft. 

184. Sprouting oats. — Such oats are unfit for food. 

185. Musty oats. — Mustiness is a condition resulting from 
dampness. Musty oats are easily recognized by their softened , 



66 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

discolored kernel and hull, and their bitter and musty taste and 
smell. They are unfit for food, and are sometimes poisonous, 
producing diseases of the digestive organs and kidneys. 

186. Moldy oats. — Moldy oats are in a state of positive decay, 
find are absolutely unfit for food. They are recognized by their 
eoftened, rotten condition, and by the presence of the mold on 
the hull. 

187. Corn. — Corn is a very good substitute for oats, but is less 
desirable by reason of its tendency to produce heat and fat. It is 
therefore most useful in cold climates where more than the usual 
amount of animal heat is required. 

188. Feeding corn. — Corn may be fed whole, either shelled or 
on the cob, or it may be crushed. It is usually given as a part 
ration only. 

189. Characteristics of corn. — Corn should be dry, hard, of 
bright color, and free from dirt; when bitten into it should taste 
sweet and have no distinct smell. 

Heated, discolored, or moldy corn is unfit to use. 

190. Weight of corn. — Seventy pounds of corn on the cob should 
make 1 bushel or 56 pounds of shelled corn. 

191. Kafir corn — Milo maize. — In emergencies, both these 
grains may be fed the same as corn. Weight, 56 pounds to the 
bushel. 

192. Barley. — Barley is a very good horse feed, and may be used 
as a substitute for oats. It may be fed whole, but is better crushed 
or soaked in water for two or three hours before feeding. Weight, 48 
pounds to the bushel. 

193. Characteristics of barley. — Barley should be plump and 
short, hard, with a thin wrinkled skin and small, fine, but not 
shrunken ends. It should be of a pale golden yellow color, and 
free from odor, dirt, and discolored grains. 

194. Spelt or emmer. — This grain resembles barley and may 
be used in the same way. 

195. Rye. — Rye may be fed in emergencies in quantities not 
exceeding 8 to 10 pounds a day. 

196. Wheat. — Wheat is not a satisfactory food for horses, and 
should be used orly in ca^es of emergency. It is fed in quanti- 
ties not exceeding 6 pounds daily. 

197. Flour. — Flour may be fed to horses, but it should be made 
into a sloppy gruel before giving. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 67 

198. Rice. — Unhusked rice, after the horses become accustomed 
to it, is a useful grain, and as much as 14 pounds may be fed daily. 
Only unhusked or unthrashed rice should be used. 

199. Linseed meal (flaxseed meal, oil meal). — An excellent 
food for horses that have become run down in condition. It has a 
slightly laxative action, produces an oily skin and a sleek glossy 
coat, and may be given with other feed in quantities of from J to 1 
pound daily. 

200. Bran. — Bran is an excellent food for the horse. Fed once 
or twice a week in the form of a mash it proves a mild, beneficial 
laxative. When used continuously, the animal system becomes 
accustomed to it and the laxative property is less marked. Dry 
bran in small quantities is said to have a constipating effect. 

201. Characteristics of bran. — Bran should be light in weight, 
dry, sweet, flaky, free from lumps and dirt, and sweet to the taste. 

202. Bran mashes. — A bran mash is made by pouring boiling 
water on 2 or 3 pounds of bran in a bucket. A tablespooniul of salt 
may be added, and the whole covered up and set aside until suffi- 
ciently cool. 

Indications of Disease. 

203. Loss of appetite. — Loss of appetite is usually one of the 
first indications of disease. It may, however, be due to overeating, 
excitement, or fatigue. 

204. The pulse in disease. — Any deviation from the normal, 
strong, full, and regular pulse indicates an abnormal condition. 

A rapid, full, bounding pulse is found in the first stages of fever. 

A weak, small ,^ and rapid pulse occurs in the later stages of fever 
and is an indication of great weakness. 

A quick, feeble, fluttering pulse indicates the approach of death. 

An abnormally slow pulse denotes disease or injury to the brain 
or spinal cord. 

205. Breathing in disease. — Difficult or rapid breathing in 
animals at rest is a prominent symptom of disease of the respiratory 
organs; it may also be observed in some cases of flatulent colic. 

206. Temperature in disease. — In fever or in diseases of an 
inflammatory nature the temperature of the body rises above the 
normal standard .^ In contagious diseases a rise of temperature often 
precedes any visible symptoms, a fact which is of great importance 
in detecting and weeding out suspected animals. 



68 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

When in a locality where such diseases as surra, influenza, or 
contagious pneumonia are known to exist, early morning tempera- 
tures of all the animals of the organization should be taken regularly 
every day, or at least every other day. _ Any animal showing a tem- 
perature of 102° F., or over, should be isolated at once. 

Care op the Sick. 

207. Nursing. — By nursing is meant the prompt and well- 
directed attention to the comforts and needs of the patient. Good 
nursing is therefore of the utmost importance in the care of the sick 
and injured. 

208. The sick stall. — The first and most important point is to 
place the sick animal in a clean, light, well- ventilated box stall, 
free from drafts and located as far as possible from other animals. 
Clean bedding should be provided and the stall kept free from 
manure and moisture. If such a stall can not be obtained, a double 
stall, with the kicking bar removed and ropes or bars placed across 
the back of it, will answer the purpose. During cold seasons, 
paulins or horse covers may be hung in such a manner asto protect 
the patient from drafts, care being taken to allow sufficient air to 
enter this improvised stall. 

Horses suffering from diseases of the nervous system, such as teta- 
nus, require to be kept absolutely quiet, and must be removed as 
far as possible from all noise. It is best that only one man be allowed 
to attend them, as a change of attendants may cause excitement and 
thus increase the severity of the disease. 

A horse suffering from colic requires a well bedded space suffi- 
ciently large to prevent injuring himself while rolling during the 
spasms of pain. In such cases a man should be constantly in attend- 
ance, as the animal may become cast and unable to get up without 
assistance. 

In the field sick animals should be kept by themselves and made 
as comfortable as circumstances may permit. 

209. Clothing. — Clothing, when required, should be provided 
according to the season. It should be light as well as warm, and 
should be changed, brushed, and aired at least once a day. 

210. Bandaging for warmth. — When circumstances require it, 
the legs should be well hand-rubbed and wrapped in flannel band- 
ages evenly and loosely applied. Bandages should be changed and 
the legs well rubbed twice daily. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 69 

211. Shoes. — Animals which are likely to remain on sick report 
for some time should have their shoes removed . 

212. Feeding sick horses. — Only the choicest food, and food 
suitable to the requirements of each case, should be provided. The 
grain ration must be reduced, and the appetite tempted with daintily 
prepared food, such as fresh grass, bran mashes, carrots, or steamed 
oats. Green alfalfa, or cured alfalfa which has been soaked for an 
hour or two in clean water to which a small quantity of salt has been 
added, is usually eaten with great relish. 

A lump of rock salt should be kept in the manger at all times. 

Food should be given often and only in such quantities as the 
patient will readily eat. The feed should be placed within easy 
reach, and any portion left over should be at once removed and the 
feed box thoroughly cleaned — washed. 

Food that is wet, such as bran mashes or steamed oats, soon sours 
in warm weather and gets cold or may freeze during the winter. If 
eaten in this condition it may cause diarrhea or colic. 

Horses suffering from colic should have food withheld for at least 
12 hours after all pain has disappeared, and then fed only in small 
quantities during the next 24 hours. 

213. Watering sick horses. — A supply of fresh water should be 
kept constantly within reach and changed at least three times a day 
or oftener in warm weather. 

214. Grooming sick horses. — Horses that are weak and de- 
pressed should not be worried with unnecessary grooming. Such 
animals should be carefully hand-rubbed or wisped at least once a 
day, and their eyes, nostrils, and docks should be wiped out with a 
sponge or soft cloth. The feet must also be cleaned. 

Animals that are only slightly indisposed should be groomed in 
the usual way. 
Animals with tetanus should not be cleaned at all. 

215. Utensils to be kept clean. — Buckets, feed boxes, mangers, 
and all utensils used in or about the sick stall must be kept abso- 
lutely clean. 

Care of the Injured. 

216. Seriously injured animals. — When an animal is seriously 
injured and stands with difficulty, it should be placed in slings 
(par. 243, fig. 37) to partially support the weight of the body. For 
slinging, a single stall, having a level floor, free from bedding, ia 
more suitable than a large one. 



70 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

217. Slightly injured animals. — When an animal is but slightly 
injured there is no necessity of placing it in slings. An ordinary 
stall with-a level floor is all that is required. 

After an_ injury has been dressed the patient should be allowed 
to stand without being disturbed. If very lame and movement is 
painful, the quieter he is kept the more quickly will recovery take 
place. 

218. Rest. — Absolute rest and perfect quiet are essential, and 
when secured they hasten the process of recovery without inflicting 
unnecessary pain. 

219. Restraint of injured animals. — In some cases it becomes 
necessary to restrain the animal so that he can not injure himself 
by rubbing or biting the affected parts. This may be done by cross- 
tying (see par. 235), or by the use of the neck cradle (par. 233, fig. 30), 
or side rod (see par. 234, fig. 31). 

220. Bandaging injured parts. — Bandages are used on the legs 
of injured animals to check bleeding, to protect the injured parts, 
and to support packs used in applying hot and cold lotions. Band- 
ages should be adjusted evenly, and not so tight as to cause pain 
or obstruct the circulation. 

22 1 . Feeding, watering, and grooming of injured animals. — 
See paragraphs 211, 212, 213. 

Miscellaneous. 

222. Feeding horses that bolt their feed. — Horses that eat 
rapidly and greedily are said to bolt their feed. To compel such 
animals to eat more slowly, let 1 pound of dry bran form a part of 
each feed, or place several large round stones in the feed box among 
the grain. 

223. Feeding idle horses. — Horses which for any reason are 
compelled to stand idle for a day or more should have their grain 
ration reduced to 6 or 7 pounds a day, depending upon the condition 
of the horses, and 2 pounds of bran in the form of a mash should form 
a part of each daily ration. 

224. Feeding thin horses and delicate feeders. — Such 
animals should be kept by themselves and fed a little at a time and 
often. The diet should be changed frequently, and should consist 
of grass, alfalfa, bran, either dry or in the form of a mash, linseed 
meal, steamed oats, and hay slightly damp and sprinkled with salt. 
A supply of fresh water should be kept constantly within reach. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 71 

225. Halter pulling. — Halter pullers may be secured by fasten- 
ing ropes or chains across the stall behind them, or they may be 
turned loose in a box stall. The habit may be broken in the earlier 
stages by a slip noose about the flank, the rope being carried forward 
between the front legs, through the halter ring, and fastened securely 
to the manger or a post. To prevent injury, a folded sack or piece of 
cloth should be secured beneath the rope at the point where it 
passes over the back. 

226. Windsucking and crib biting. — These are incurable vices 
which usually increase with age. Causes unknown. They are 
thought, however, to be a result of idleness, and to be learned by 
imitation. Keep such horses by themselves to prevent others 
from learning the habit. Place them in smoothly finished stalls 
without mangers or racks and feed off the floor. 

227. Condition. — Condition is fitness for work. Horses that 
have been idle from injury or disease are not in condition, and 
should not be put to hard or fast work until they have received 
from one to three weeks' preparation in the way of gradually increas- 
ing exercise. Walking is the exercise which develops muscles; 
walking alternated with steady short trots, is the best method of 
getting horses in shape. 

227^. Exhaustion. — Exhausted horses should receive a good 
stimulant (aromatic spirits of ammonia, nitrous ether, etc.), and their 
legs and body should be well rubbed and massaged. They should 
also be provided with a good bed. If on the march they should be 
unsaddled or Unharnessed, a rest should be permitted and a drink of 
water provided, after which they may be taken slowly to camp. In 
hot weather put the animal in the shade and apply ice or cold water 
to the head. In cold weather blanket the body and bandage the 
legs. When rested, feed bran mashes, grass, hay, and steamed oats. 



CHAPTER IV. 
RESTRAINT AND CONTROL OF ANIMALS. 

228. The object of restraint is to quiet or secure the animal 
in such a manner that it may neither injure itself nor those that are 
handling it. All experience demonstrates that animals which are 
most refractory and vicious under harsh and violent management 
will become reassured and tractable when treated with ordinary 
kindness and gentleness. Nervous and excitable animals especially 
should be dealt with quietly, so as to calm them and gain their con- 
fidence when they are about to be submitted to restraint and pain. 
Noise and excitement should be avoided as much as possible, and 
the preliminary stages of applying apparatus of restraint gone through 
steadily, intelligently, and with gentle hands and voice. 

The apparatus should inconvenience or pain the animal as little 
as possible, and it ought to be readily applicable reliable when in 




Fig. 28. — Twitch. (From Flemming's Operative Veterinary Surgery.) 

use, and easily removed when no longer required. The respiration 
should be interfered with as little as possible. The horse and mule 
breathe only through the nostrils; therefore, these should be kept 
free and open. The trachea, chest, and flanks should not be pressed 
upon, as difficulty in respiration alone will cause \iolent struggling 
and may result in suffocation. 

229. The kind of restraint to be used will generally depend 
not only upon the nature of the purpose for which it is intended, 
but also upon the disposition or temperament of the horse. The 
horse is secured in the standing position by the head or legs or both. 

230. Securing* the head. — The head is usually secured by means 
of a switch, blindfold, neck cradle, or side rod. 

231. The twitch (fig. 28). — The twitch is a severe instrument of 
control, and should not be applied unless absolutely necessary. It 

72 



MANUAL FOE STABLE SERGEANTS. 



73 



is too frequently used on horses which could be more easily and 
humanely managed by gentleness, patience, and tact. 

The ordinary twitch is a round piece of wood, from 1 to 5 feet in 
length, and 1| to 2 inches in diameter, with a hole near one end 
through which a piece of cord is passed and tied in a loop sufficiently 
large to allow the closed fist to pass through easily. 

The loop is passed over the upper lip, which is seized by the hand 
and drawn forward, care being taken to turn the edges of the lip in 
to prevent injury to the mucous membrane; the cord is then twisted 
by turning the stick until sufficient pressure is obtained, which is 
usually manifested by the closing of the animal's eyelids. 





Fig. 29.— Blindfold. (From Flemming's Fig. 30.— Neck cradle. (From 

Operative Veterinary Surgery.) Flemming's Operative Veteri- 

nary Surgery.) 

. 232. The blindfold (fig. 29).— Sudden deprivation of sight often 
so alarms or stupefies horses that they are rendered quite docile, or 
at least more manageable, while if really vicious they can not take 
advantage of a favorable opportunity to injure those around them. 

Any nontransparent covering will exclude the vision; an empty 
grain sack, towel, or piece of cloth tied across the face from one side 
of the halter or head stall to the other, but the leather mule blind 
or the operating hood is best if available. 

233. The neck cradle (fig. 30 b).— The neck cradle allows lateral 
and downward movements of the head to only a limited extent. This- 



74 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



may be used to prevent the animal from biting and tearing his 
wounds, the dressings, or the blanket. 

It is composed of from 8 to 12 round pieces of hardwood, about 1£ 
inches in diameter and about 18 inches in length, pierced at each 
end by a hole, through which a cord passes. These rods are kept 
3 or 4 inches apart, either by knots on the cords or by short pieces of 
wood perforated from end to end, and strung on the cord between 
the rods. The ends of the cords are tied on the upper border of the 

neck and so adjusted that the upper 
ends of the rods are just back of 
the lower jaw, the lower ends rest- 
ing on the shoulder at the seat of 
the collar. 

234. The side rod (fig. 31).— 
The side rod is a round wooden rod, 
from 3| to 4 feet in length, with a 
cord or small strap and buckle at 
each end. One end (A) is attached 
to the nose band of the halter, while 
the other (B) is fastened to a sur- 
cingle firmly secured around the 
body at the girth. The side rod is 
used to prevent the tearing of dress- 
ings or clothing with the teeth. 

235. Cross tying. — Cross tying 
is useful in keepng an animal from 
lying down, and in preventing the 
tearing of dressings or clothing with 
the teeth. 

It consists in tying the head in 
an elevated position with two tie % 
ropes, one attached on either side 
of the halter to the rings in the nose 
band, and tied, one on either side 
of the stall, in such a manner as 
not to allow the nose to be lowered below the point of the shoulder. 
The food should be placed in a raised manger or rack. 

236. Muzzles. — Muzzles should be constructed of leather or 
heavy woven wire, and should have a snap on either side for attach- 
ment to the side rings of the halter. They may be applied to 
vicious horses that bite, or to animals that have digestive diseases to 




Fig. 31.— Side rod. (From Flem- 
ming's Operative Veterinary Sur- 
gery.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



75 



grevent their taking food. They are useful also to prevent animals 
om licking their wounds or tearing their dressings. 

237. Securing a foreleg. — (a) With a rope or strap: A rope or 
a strap may be used to attach the pastern to the forearm. The leg is 
well bent at the knee, and the rope or strap is attached to the pastern 
by means of a loop and then passed around the forearm and back to 
the pastern and tied. 

A broad leather strap with a double loop and a strong buckle is to be 
preferred, as it is less likely to injure the leg. 

(6) The side line: This is a rope about 29 feet long, with a loop or 
a nobble strap at one end. The loop or strap is put around the 




Fig. 



32. — Securing a hind leg forward by side line. (From Flem- 
ming's Operative Veterinary Surgery.) 



Eastern of the limb to be raised, and the rope is passed over the 
orse's back to the opposite side, where it is held by an assistant 
after the leg has been lifted up and well flexed; or it is passed in 
front of the chest, around over the back to the same pastern, where it 
is tied, the weight and straiD. being thus thrown on the back. 
The side line may also be used in securing the hind leg. 

238. Securing ahindleg forward by side line, first method. — ■ 
See figure 32. 

239. Securing a hind leg forward by side line, second 
method. — See figure 36. 



76 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Fig. 33.— Securing a hind leg forward by side line. (From Flem- 
ming's Operative Veterinary Surgery.) 




Fig. 34.— Securing a hind leg backward bv side line. ' (From Flemming's 
Operative Veterinary Surgery.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



77 



240. Securing a hind leg backward by side line (fig. 34). — 
A large loop of the side line is thrown over the neck, and the rope 
carried back to the pastern of the foot to be secured, and by one or 
two twists aiound itself, is brought backwards where it is held by an 
assistant. 

241. Securing the fore and hind limbs in the standing 
position. — See figure 35. 

242. Throwing a horse down by means of a rope (fig. 36). — 
In throwing a horse down, care must be taken to throw him as 
quickly, securely, 
and safely as possi- 
ble. As a fall is 
always more or less 
violent, it is neces- 
sary that precau- 
tions be taken to 
prevent injury, 
either by throwing 
the horse on soft 
ground, as on the 
lawn, or on a bed 
of hay, straw, or 
similar material, 
care being taken 
that all injurious 
bodies such as 
stones, pieces of 
wood, iron, nails, 
etc., be removed 
from the ground or Fig. 35.— Securing the fore and hind limbs in the standing- 
floor upon which P° sition - (From Flemming's Operative Veterinary Sur- 
the animal is to be ge 

thrown. The size of the bed should be at least one and one-half 
times the length and height of the horse. 

. (a) The casting rope (fig. 36).— A simple way of throwing a horse 
is by means of a strong and flexible rope, 30 feet long, and from 
three-fourths to 1 inch in diameter. This is doubled, and at 2 or 3 
feet from the bend is tied into a knot. 

The loop thus formed is passed over the animal's head and the 
rope adjusted as shown in figure 36. A strong man holds the horse te 




78 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



head, on which there is a strong halter, and a twitch on the nose if 
necessary. 

Two or three assistants pull, at a given signal or word, each rope 
backward, this draws the hind legs suddenly upward and forward, 
the animal then either falls or is easily pushed over on its side, 
when the ropes can be fastened to the loop around the neck by 
means of several half or double-half hitches, and the fore limbs 
secured to the hind ones by the same means. 




Fig. 36, 



-The casting rope applied. (From Flemminc 
Surgery.) 



's Operative Veterinary 



As soon as the horse falls the man at the head places one knee on 
the neck and raises the horse's nose from the ground, turns it back 
toward the body and retains it in that position until the animal is 
released. 

243. Slinging the horse (fig. 37). — When a horse is so severely 
injured as to stand with difficulty, or if it is desired to keep him in the 
standing position without allowing him to move about, the slings 
may be used. Before using, all parts should be carefully inspected 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



79 



to make sure that they are strong enough to support the weight of the 
animal. ^ They must be so adjusted as to fit closely behind the 
elbows in such a manner as to bear the weight of the body on the 
chest and not on the abdomen. This position is maintained by the 
use of the breast strap and breeching, which prevent the shifting of 
the body girth. The slings mustnot be too tightly drawn; ^the 
animal should stand squarely on his feet, and there should be just 




Fig. 37.— The horse in slings. 

room enough between the front border of the body girth and the chest 
to admit the insertion of two fingers. 

The slings are only intended to aid in standing. If the patient 
refuses to bear weight on his legs and attempts to lie down, the stall 
should be well bedded, the animal gently lowered to the floor, and 
the slings removed. 

The stall in which the slings are placed should be level, dry, and 
free from bedding. 

106233°— 17 6 



CHAPTER V. 
ADMINISTRATION, ACTIONS, AND USES OF MEDICINES. 

244. Administration of medicines. — Medicines may enter the 
body through any of the following channels: By the mouth; by the 
lungs and upper air passages; by the skin, externally; by the rectum; 
by the skin, hypodermically ; by injection into a vein (intravenously) 

245. By the mouth.— (a) In the form of powders, by placing the 
drug upon the tongue or in the food. When given in the food the 
powder should be mixed with the handful of wet bran or oats, for 
if placed in the dry oats the powder will sift through them to the 
bottom of the box where the animal will not get it; if it has a marked 
taste it should be well covered up in plenty of bran mash. 

(b) In the form of a ball, made by rolling the drug in tissue paper 
or by putting it into a capsule. 

To give a ball: The ball is held by the four fingers of the right 
hand. The left hand grasps the horse's tongue, carefully pulls it 
out, and turns it upward in the right interdental space so that it 
opens the mouth. With the right hand the ball is carried well back 
into the mouth and dropped at the root of the tongue. When the 
right hand is withdrawn, the left hand carries the tongue to the 
middle of the mouth and releases it. When the tongue is released 
the ball is carried backward into the pharynx and swallowed. 

(c) In the form of a drench, by first elevating the head and then 
slowly pouring the liquid into the mouth. This is a difficult pro- 
cedure at times, and in all cases needs to be done carefully and 
slowly, pouring only a little into the mouth at a time in order to avoid 
wasting the medicine and to prevent choking the animal. If the 
animal should cough the head must be lowered at once to allow the 
liquid which has entered the larynx to be expelled. 

(d) By injecting the liquid into the back of the mouth by means 
of a syringe. 

246. By the lungs and upper air passages. — Medicines are 
brought in contact with the mucous lining of the respiratory tract 
by inhalation. Inhalations are given by placing a bucket containing 
hot water or scalded bran, to which 1 ounce of turpentine, carbolic 
acid, or creolin has been added, in the bottom of a gunny sack. The 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 81 

horse's nose is then inserted into the top of the sack where it is held 
from 20 to 30 minutes. Or hot bricks may be placed in a pail and 
tar or othei medicine poured upon them and the animal allowed to 
inhale the vapor. Liquids should under no consideration be injected 
or poured into the nostrils. 

247. By the skin. — Medicines are applied to the skin for their 
local action only: (a) To destroy parasites; (6) for their antiseptic 
action ; (c) for their soothing or stimulating effect; (d) for their blister- 
ing action. 

248. By the rectum. — Medicines may be given by the rectum 
when the animal is unable to swallow; also to destroy worms in the 
rectum, and to cause evacuation of the bowel. For the latter pur- 
pose warm water is most useful. 

249. By the skin, hypodermically. — Medicines are given under 
the skin, in concentrated form (alkaloids), when prompt action is 
desired. Such medicines are to be used only as directed by the 
veterinarian. 

250. By injection into a vein. — Medicines are administered 
into a vein when rapid action is required. This method is used only 
by veterinarians. 

Weights and Measures. 

251. Weights. 

60 grains (gr.) 1 dram (5). 

8 drams 1 ounce (5). 

16 ounces 1 pound (lb.). 

252. Liquid measure. 

60 minims (min.) 1 fluid dram (f 5)- 

8 fluid drams 1 fluid ounce (f 5). 

16 fluid ounces 1 pint (Oi). 

32 fluid ounces 1 quart (Oii). 

4 quarts 1 gallon (Ci). 

253. Solutions are liquid preparations containing substances 
which readily dissolve. 

(a) A saturated solution is made by adding to a liquid all of a 
drug that the liquid will dissolve. 

(b) To make- 
One per cent solution of creolin, add 1 part creolin to 99 parts water. 
Two per cent solution of creolin, add 2 parts creolin to 98 parts 

water. 



82 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Three per cent solution of creolin, add 3 parts creolin to 97 parts 
water. 

Four per cent solution of creolin, add 4 parts creolin to 96 parts 
water. 

Five per cent solution of creolin, add 5 parts creolin to 95 parts 
water. 

Ten per cent solution of creolin, add 10 parts creolin to 90 parts 
water. 

Twenty per cent solution of creolin, add 20 parts creolin to 80 parts 
water. 

Fifty per cent solution of creolin, add 50 parts creolin to 50 parts 
water. 

Water and creolin are used above merely as example. Other 
fluids — alcohol, ether, glycerine, etc. — are also used in making 
solutions. 

(c) To make — 

One per cent solution of a solid drug, add 1 part of the solid to 100 
parts of water. 

Two per cent solution of a solid drug, add 2 parts of the solid to 100 
parts of water. 

Three per cent solution of a solid drug, add 3 parts of the solid to 
100 parts of water. 

Four per cent solution of a solid drug, add 4 parts of the solid to 100 
parts of water. 

Five per cent solution of a solid drug, add 5 parts of the solid to 100 
parts water. 

Ten per cent solution of a solid drug, add 10 parts of the solid to 
100 parts water. 

254. Mixtures are liquid preparations containing substances 
which do not dissolve. 

255. Liquid measure — approximate value. 

A drop 1 minim. 

A teaspoonful 1 dram. 

A tablespoonful 4 drams (£ ounce). 

Ordnance tin cup, old style 28 ounces. 

Ordnance tin cup, new style 22 ounces. 

One minim always equals one-sixtieth part of a dram; a drop does 
not, for drops of various liquids differ in size and weight. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 83 

256. Metric measures. 

1 c. c. stands for 1 cubic centimeter and equals 16 minims. 
4 c. c. equal 1 dram by measure. 
30 c. c. equal 1 ounce. 
500 c. c. approximately equal 1 pint. 
1,000 c. c. approximately equal 1 quart. 

257. Dry measure — approximate value. — An ordnance spoon 
holds approximately 1 ounce of — 

Salt, 

Zinc sulphate. 
Lead acetate. 
Potassium nitrate. 

Potassium permanganate, etc., when heaping full. 
An ordnance spoon holds approximately 2 drams of — 
Gentian. 
Fenugreek. 
Ginger. 
Nux vomica, etc. 

Actions and Uses of Medicines. 

258. Antiseptics. — Agents, used on or in the body in the treat- 
ment of wounds or diseases, .which prevent the growth and develop- 
ment of germs. Ex.: Carbonic acid, bichloride of mercury, iodine, 
creolin, etc. 

259. Anesthetics. — Agents that produce loss of the sense of 
touch or pain. Ex. : Chloroform and ether. 

260. Astringents. — Agents which contract tissues and check 
secretions. Ex.: Alum, zinc, tannic acid, etc. 

261. Anodynes. — Agents which relieve pain. Ex.: Opium, 
belladonna, cannabis indica. 

262. Antispasmodics. — Agents which prevent or allay spas- 
modic contraction of voluntary or involuntary muscles. Ex.: 
Belladonna, cannabis americana. 

263. Alteratives. — Agents which reestablish the healthy func- 
tions of the body. Ex. : Potassium nitrate and potassium iodide. 

264. Carminatives. — Agents which aid in the expulsion of gas 
from the stomach and intestines. Ex. : Ginger, turpentine, aromatic 
spirits of ammonia. 

265. Caustics. — Agents which destroy tissue by burning. Ex.: 
Copper sulphate, lunar caustic (silver nitrate). 



84 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

266. Cholagogues. — Agents which promote secretion of bile. 
Ex.: Calomel, aloes. 

267. Disinfectants. — Agents which destroy the germs that cause 
infectious diseases. Ex.: Chloride of lime, carbolic acid, creolin, 
formalin. 

268. Deodorants. — Agents which disguise or destroy odors. 
Ex.: Creolin, carbolic acid. 

269. Diuretics. — Agents which increase the excretion of urine. 
Ex. : Nitrate of potash, turpentine, nitrous ether. 

270. Expectorants. — Agents which act upon the mucous mem- 
branes of the respiratory organs and favor the removal of their 
secretions. Ex.: Ammonia chloride, tar, turpentine. 

271. Febrifuges (antipyretics). — Agents which reduce fever. 
Ex. : Nitrous ether, quinine, cold water. 

272. Laxatives. — Mild cathartics. Ex.: Small doses of oil, 
bran mash, green foods. 

273. Purgatives (cathartics). — Agents which empty the 
bowels. Ex.: Aloes, salts, and linseed oil. 

274. Parasiticides.— Agents which kill animal and vegetable 
parasites infesting the skin. Ex.: Carbolic acid, creolin, salicylic 
acid. 

275. Stomachics. — Agents which promote digestion. Ex.: 
Gentian, ginger, fenugreek. 

276. Styptics. — Agents which check hemorrhage. Ex.: Tinc- 
ture of iron. 

277. Stimulants. — Agents which promptly but temporarily 
increase nervous vigor. Ex.: Alcohol, aromatic spirits of ammonia, 
ether. 

278. Sedatives. — Agents which soothe the nervous system. 
Ex.: Bromide of potassium, cannabis indica. 

279. Tonics. — Agents which gradually but permanently improve 
the general health and increase vigor. Ex. : Iron, sulphate, gentian, 
nux vomica. 

280. Vesicants (blisters). — Agents which cause inflammation 
of the skin with a discharge of serum under the epidermis. Ex.: 
Cantharides, biniodide of mercury. 

Blistering. — Clip the hair, and brush away the dirt from the part 
to be blistered, then apply the blister and rub briskly for from 
5 to 20 minutes, the amount of rubbing depending on the thickness 
of the skin and the effect desired. The longer the rubbing is kept up 
the more severe will be the effect. In thin-skinned horses, rubbing 
for five minutes is usually sufficient. The animal should then be 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 85 

controlled by cross tying or tying the head up short to prevent him 
from biting, rubbing, or lying on the blistered area. The tail must 
be tied up if within reach of the blister. The blister should be left 
on for 24 hours and then washed off and the parts kept clean and well 
oiled to prevent cracking of the skin. Blisters should not be applied 
to the back of joints or to any acutely inflamed parts. 

281. Vermicides. — Agents which kill intestinal worms. Ex.: 
Turpentine, copper sulphate, iron sulphate. 

282. Vermifuges. — Agents which remove intestinal worms by 
purgation. Ex. : Aloes, linseed oil. 

Medicines. 

283. Acetanilid. — Antiseptic. Used externally as a dusting 
powder, alone or in combination with other drugs. 

284. Acid, arsenious (arsenic). — Irritant, caustic poison. 
It is sometimes given as a tonic in the form of Fowler's solution 
in £ to I ounce doses. 

285. Acid, boracic (boric acid). — Nonirritant antiseptic. Used 
in all strengths up to a saturated solution as a mild soothing anti- 
septic in diseases of the eyes, and as a wet or dry dressing for wounds. 
Also in the form of an ointment for burns, etc., strength 10 per cent. 
Used alone or in combination with other drugs. 

286. Acid, carbolic (phenol). — A caustic, disinfectant, and anti- 
septic. Pure carbolic occurs in crystals which may be dissolved 
by heat and the addition of glycerin, alcohol, or water. Carbolic 
acid is a powerful poison and is readily absorbed from raw surfaces, 
hence must not be used too freely in strong solutions. A 5 per cent 
solution may be used to disinfect the unbroken skin, but on raw 
surfaces, a 2 per cent solution is sufficiently strong. When applied 
externally in full strength it burns the skin and causes it to turn 
white. This burning action may be stopped by the application of 
alcohol. In poisoning, alcohol, brandy, or whisky should be given. 

287. Acid, salicylic. — A useful antiseptic, but irritating to the 
tissues and but slightly soluble in water. A saturated alcoholic 
solution is of value in the treatment of indolent sores and ulcers. 

288. Acid, tannic. — Astringent. Dose f to 2 drams. Useful 
internally in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery, given alone 
or in combination with other drugs. Externally it is used to check 
bleeding from raw surfaces; in solution, in alcohol or witch-hazel, 
it may be used to harden tender shoulders. It is also useful in the 
form of an ointment, 1 to 4, for scratches, etc. 



86 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

289. Alcohol. — Stimulant and antiseptic. Dose 2 to 4 ounces 
in a pint of water every four to six hours, as required. Of great 
value in the treatment of debilitating diseases. 

290. Aloes, Barbados. — Purgative. Dose 6 to 8 drams. This is 
a slow but powerful-acting cathartic , taking about 24 hours to operate. 
Of value whenever an active purge is desired. May be given in the 
form of a ball or in solution in hot water. It should not be given 
when there is great weakness, a tendency to diarrhea, or in respiratory 
diseases. Ginger is generally given with aloes to overcome the 
griping which it causes. D 

Aloes 6-8 

Ginger 1-2 

Make into a ball. 

291. Alum. — Astringent and styptic. Used externally in the 
treatment of thrush. In a 2 per cent solution it is valuable as a wash 
for sore mouths. 

292. Ammonia, aromatic spirits. — Stimulant and carminative. 
Dose 1 to 2 ounces diluted with 1 pint of water. Of great value in 
exhaustion, and in the treatment of colics. 

293. Ammonia, aqua (solution of ammonia). — Used exter- 
nally only and in the form of stimulating liniments. p 

Aqua ammonia 1 

Turpentine 1 

Olive oil 2 

Shake well before using. 

Of value to relieve the pain caused by insect stings, i. e., bees, 
wasps, etc. 

294. Ammonia, chloride of. — Expectorant. Dose, 2 to 4 
drams. Useful in all irritable conditions of the respiratory mucous 
membranes. 

295. Belladonna, fluid extract of. — Antispasmodic and ano- 
dyne. Dose, \ to 2 drams. Used internally in colics to relieve pain 
and spasms. Useful in eye lotions to relieve pain and to dilate the 
pupil. In the treatment of painful affections of the eye the fol- 
lowing is of value: 

Zinc sulphate grains. . 20 

Belladonna, fluid extract dram. . 1 

Water to make 4 ounces. 

Drop a few drops into the eye twice a day with a dropper. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 87 

296. Camphor, gum. — Antispasmodic, stimulant, expectorant, 
antiseptic. Dose, 1 to 2 drams. It is useful in the treatment of 
diarrhea. Externally it is used in liniments for its stimulating and 
anodyne actions. A useful preparation known as soap liniment is 
made as follows: 

Parts. 

Castile soap 10 

Camphor, gum 5 

Alcohol 70 

Water 15 

297. Cannabis indica or cannabis americana, fluid extract 
of. — Anodyne, antispasmodic. Dose, 2 to 4 drams. Very much 
used in the treatment of colics, as it relieves pain without causing 
constipation; also of value in the treatment of tetanus to control the 
muscular spasms. 

298. Cantharides, powdered (Spanish, fly). — Vesicant. Used 
only for its blistering effect, made up in an ointment with cosmoline 
in the strength of 1 part cantharides to 4 or 6 parts of cosmoline. 
Prepare by rubbing the ingredients together with a spatula. 

299. Charcoal. — A mild antiseptic and deodorant. Used as a 
dry dressing for foul-smelling wounds, either alone or in combina- 
tion with other drugs. 

300. Chloroform. — Antispasmodic, anodyne, and carminative. 
Dose, 1 to 2 drams. Local anesthetic when rubbed into the skin 
and a general anesthetic when inhaled. 

301. Creohn.— Disinfectant, antiseptic, parasiticide, and deo- 
dorant. Used principally as an antiseptic in 1 to 2 per cent solu- 
tions; also in the same strength or up to 5 per cent to destroy para- 
sites of the skin. Useful in the form of an ointment; strength, 5 to 10 
per cent. To disinfect nail wounds in the foot apply creolin full 
strength on cotton or oakum. A good ointment for parasitic skin 
diseases is made as follows : 

Parts. 

Acetanilid 10 

Creolin 5 

Cosmoline 20 

Melt the cosmoline^ and while cooling add the other ingredients. 
Creolin is also used internally as a vermifuge, 1 ounce in a quart 
of water, given on an empty stomach. To kill rectal worms, give 
1 ounce creolin in a quart of water as an injection. 



88 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

302. Chloro-naphtholeum (Kreso). — Action same as creolin, 
but not so useful, being more oily and less refined. Principally 
used as a disinfectant. 

303. Collodion. — Used as a protective dressing for wounds. 
When painted on the skin it rapidly dries and leaves a thin pro- 
tective coating. The skin must be dry or the collodion will not 
adhere. 

304. Cosmoline (petrolatum, vaseline). — Used as a base for 
ointments and as a soothing agent applied to blistered or abraded 
surfaces. 

305. Digitalis, fluid extract of. — A dangerous poison. 

306. Ether, spirits nitrous (sweet spirits of niter) — Stimu- 
lant, antispasmodic, and diuretic. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces. This is 
one of the most generally useful drugs we have. Used in the treat- 
ment of fevers, especially those accompanied by weakness. An 
excellent remedy in the treatment of colic, combined with bella- 
donna or cannabis indica. 

307. Ether, sulphuric. — Stimulant, antispasmodic, carmina- 
tive, and, when inhaled, anesthetic. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces, well 
diluted. Useful in the treatment of thumps. Given in colics, 
especially flatulent colics, to diminish the production of gas and 
cause its expulsion. It may be given alone or with other drugs. 

308. Flaxseed meal (linseed meal). — A laxative food, and an 
excellent poultice material. 

309. Formalin. — Antiseptic, disinfectant, and deodorant. Used 
externally only. It is very irritating and should not be used stronger 
than 1 dram to a quart of water (approximately one two-hundredth) 
for ordinary purposes. 

310. Genetian, powdered. — Stomachic, and bitter tonic. Dose 
^ to 1 ounce. It increases the secretions of the stomach and intes- 
tines and improves the appetite. Usually combined with other 
drugs. 

311. Gentian, fluid extract. — Action, uses, and dose, same as 
the powdered drug. May be given diluted, when the animal will 
not take the powder in the feed. 

312. Ginger. — Stomachic and carminative. Dose, 2 drams tol 
ounce. Used in indigestion accompanied by flatulency. Also in 
combination with purgatives to hasten their action and lessen the 
griping caused by them. 

313. Glycerine. — Used as a base in the same manner as cosmo- 
line. Used internally in cough mixtures to moisten and soothe the 
throat. The following is a useful cough remedy: 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 89 

Fluid extract belladonna drams. . 4 

Nitrous ether ounces. . 2 

Glycerine do 2 

Water to make do 8 

Mix and give one-half ounce three times daily. 

314. Iodine crystals. — Alterative, absorbent, and antiseptic. 
Seldom used internally. Used externally, iodine is a powerful 
antiseptic. The tincture is made by dissolving 1 ounce of the crys- 
tals in a pint of alcohol. A good solution for external use is made as 
follows: 

Iodine ounce. . 11 T „. , 

Potassium iodide do. . . . 3 W 2 

Water pint.. lj solutlon - 

Either the tincture or the solution is valuable in the treatment of 
wounds, sores, ulcers, curbs, splints, enlarged tendons, etc. For 
such purposes it is applied once or twice daily with a small cotton 
swab. 

-315. Iodoform. Antiseptic. — It contains more than 90 per cent 
of iodine and is a valuable agent in the treatment of wounds. It may 
be used alone or in combination with other drugs, as: 

Acetanilid and boric acid, equal parts. 
Iodoform sufficient to give a light yellow color. 

316. Iron, tincture, chloride of. — Styptic and tonic. A valu- 
able agent for building up the system and enriching the blood. Use- 
ful during recovery from debilitating diseases. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces,, 
well diluted. 

317. Iron, sulphate of. — Tonic, astringent, and vermicide. 
Dose, \ to 1 dram. Used internally as a tonic and to destroy worms. 
Used externally as an astringent dusting powder. 

318. Lead, acetate of sugar (sugar of lead). — Astringent. 
Used externally in the form of white lotion , for its cooling and sooth- 
ing action in the treatment of sprains, bruises, itching skin diseases, 
cuts, burns, and scratches. All local conditions with heat, pain, and 
swelling are benefited by its use. White lotion is made as follows: 

Lead acetate ounce. . 1 

Zinc sulphate do 1 

Water to make quart. . 1 

Shake well and apply several times daily. 



90 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

319. Lime, chloride of. — Disinfectant and deodorant. Must be 
fresh and kept in sealed jars. Used 6 ounces to the gallon of water to 
disinfect stables. 

320. Liquor cresolis (solution of cresol). — Antiseptic and disin- 
fectant. Used externally in 1 to 2 per cent solutions. It is a power- 
ful antiseptic and much less poisonous than carbolic acid. It froms 
a soapy solution and is a very efficient cleaning agent. 

321. Lunar caustic (silver nitrate). — Caustic. Used for the 
removal of excessive granulations (proud flesh) and warts and to 
stimulate slow healing ulcers. 

322. Mercury, bichloride of (corrosive sublimate). — Antisep- 
tic and disinfectant. Put up in tablets containing 7^ grains of mer- 
cury. One tablet to a pint of water makes a 1-1000 solution, the 
strength most commonly used in the treatment of wounds. If in 
bulk, used 1\ grains of bichloride of mercury to a pint of water, and 
add 7| grains of ammonium chloride or table salt to insure solution of 
the mercury. 

323. Mercury, mild chloride of (calomel). — Cholagogue, purga- 
tive, antiseptic, and drying. Dose, \ to 1 dram. Frequently com- 
bined with aloes to make the physic ball : 

Calomel drams . . ^-1 

Aloes do 4-6 

Ginger do 1 

Water to make a ball. 

Used externally as a dry dressing in the treatment of thrush. 

324. Mercury, biniodide of (red iodide).— Used as a blister- 
ing agent in the treatment of spavin, splints, ringbone, sidebone, 
thickened tendons, etc. 

A mercury blister is prepared as follows: 

Biniodide of mercury 1 

Cosmoline or lard 5-6 

Mix and rub together thoroughly. 

325. Nux vomica, fluid extract of. — A nerve stimulant and 
tonic. Dose, 1 to 2 drams. Very useful in the treatment of debilitat- 
ing diseases. Usually given with other drugs, gentian, iron sulphate, 
etc. 

326. Nux vomica, powdered. — Action and dose the same as 
the fluid extract. These drugs must not be given for more than five 
or six days at a time, as poisoning may result. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 91 

327. Oil, linseed. — Laxative. Dose, 1 to 2 pints. Much used 
in the treatment of colics. The raw oil should^ always be used. 

328. Oil, olive. — Laxative. Dose, 1 to 2 pints. Principally 
used in making oily solutions for external use and as a soothing 
application in irritable conditions of the skin. 

329. Oil, turpentine. — Stimulant, diuretic, antispasmodic, 
antiseptic, carminative, expectorant, and vermicide. Dose, 1 to 3 
ounces, well diluted with oil. This is a most useful drug and of 
great value in the treatment of colics, especially flatulent colic. 
As a vermicide a single large dose, 2 to 4 ounces, is given in a pint of 
linseed oil, on an empty stomach. Used externally in stimulating 
liniments and to disinfect nail wounds. Given as an inhalation in 
respiratory diseases, 1 to 2 ounces to a pail of boiling water. 

330. Opium, tincture of (laudanum). — Anodyne, and anti- 
spasmodic. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces. It checks secretion from mucous 
membranes and is of value in the treatment of diarrhea and dysen- 
tery. 

331. Opium, powdered. — Action same as tincture. Dose 1 to 2 
drams. 

332. Potassium arsenate, solution of (Fowler's solution). — 
Alterative and tonic. Dose, \ to 1 ounce. 

333. Potassium bromide. — Nerve sedative. Dose, 1 to 2 
ounces. Used to allay nervous excitability. In tetanus it is given 
in very large doses, 2 to 8 ounces. 

334. Potassium iodide. — Alterative, diuretic, and expectorant. 
Dose, 2 to 4 drams. 

335. Potassium nitrate (saltpeter). — Alterative, febrifuge, 
diuretic. Dose, 2 to 4 drams. Internally e much used in the treat- 
ment of fevers. In the treatment of laminitis it is used^ in large 
doses, 2 to 4 ounces, two or three times daily. Externally it is used 
as a cooling lotion in the treatment of sprains and bruises: 

Potassium nitrate ounces. . 5 

Ammonia chloride do 5 

Water pint. . 1 

Mix and keep the affected parts saturated with the solution. 

336. Potassium permanganate. — Antiseptic, disinfectant, and 
deodorant. Used externally as an antiseptic in the treatment of 
wounds, 1 to 2 drams to the pint of water. Full strength it is mildly 
caustic. 



92 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

337. Quinine, sulphate of. — Tonic, stomachic, antiseptic, and 
febrifuge. Dose, £ to 1 dram three times daily. Used in the treat- 
ment of all febrile (fever) diseases. 

338. Soap, castile. — A cleaning agent. Used in removing grease 
and dirt from the skin surrounding the margins of wounds. Should 
not be applied to raw surfaces. Also used in making soap liniment. 

339. Sodium bicarbonate. — Stomachic. Dose, 2 to 8 drams. 
Used externally to allay itching and the pain of slight burns, ^ to 1 
ounce to a pint of water. _ Used internally in chronic indigestion. 

340. Sulphur. — Parasiticide. Used in the form of an ointment 
in the treatment of skin diseases such as mange and eczema: 

Parts. 

Sulphur 1 

Lard 4 

Apply twice a day. 

341. Tar, pine.— Antiseptic, stimulant, expectorant, and para- 
siticide. Dose, 2 to 4 drams. Used as a protective dressing in the 
treatment of corns and punctured wounds of the foot. Also in the 
treatment of skin diseases. A good application is made as follows: 

Ounces. 

Tincture iodine 2 

Sulphur 1 

Oil of tar 4 

Olive or linseed oil to make 1 pint. 

Mix. Shake well before applying. 

First thoroughly cleanse skin, and, when dry, rub the mixture in 
well and leave on for several days. Wash off and repeat if necessary. 

342. Witch hazel.— Astringent. Used externally as a cooling 
application to reduce swelling and relieve pain. 

343. Zinc, sulphate of. — Antiseptic and astringent. Used 
externally in the form of white lotion, for the treatment of bruises, 
collar sores, sore shoulders, saddle sores, etc. 

344. Zinc oxide. — Mildly astringent and antiseptic. Used as a 
dry dressing for wounds, either alone or in combination with other 
drugs: Zinc oxide, boric acid, and acetanilid, equal parts. _ 

Also used as an ointment in the treatment of abrasions and 
scratches. 

Parts. 

Zinc oxide 1 

Cosmoline 4 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 9$ 

345. Bandages. 

Flannel. — Use chiefly on the legs for warmth, support, protection,, 
and the retention of dressings. 

Cotton. — Used for the retention of dressings and the protection of 
wounds. 

346. Dressings. 

Absorbent cotton. — Used as a substitute for sponges in the cleansing 
of wounds; to make packs by soaking it in medicinal solutions; and 
to retain dry dressings in contact with the surfaces of wounds. 

Antiseptic gauze. — A light, loosely woven vaiiety of cloth, which 
has been saturated with an antiseptic and dried. Used as a covering 
for wounds. Gauze must be kept clean and the par. that is to come 
in contact with the wound should never be touched with the fingers 
or hands. 

Oakum. — Prepared fiber from old ropes. Used principally in 
packing horses' feet. It may also be used as a substitute for sponges, 
and, in the absence of cotton and gauze, as a covering for wounds. 

347. Packs. — Packs are made by soaking cotton, gauze, oakum, 
or similar material in hot or cold medicinal solutions, after which 
they are applied to the part with a bandage. 

348. Poultices. — Poultices are preparations for the local applica- 
tion of heat and moisture. They are made usually of flaxseed meal 
and bran, but other substances, such as oatmeal and bread, may be 
used. The material from which they are to be made is stirred up 
in hot water until thick and pasty. This mass is then spread on a 
piece of sacking or cloth of any kind and applied, while hot, directly 
to the part and held in place by means of bandages or other appli- 
ances. When poultices are intended for use on wounds, such as 
punctures of the foot, etc., from 2 to 4 drams of carbolic acid or 
creolin should be added to the mass to render it antiseptic. 

Poultices are most useful about the feet. They should be changed 
twice daily and immersed in hot water every hour to keep them 
fresh and to prevent drying. Their application should not be con- 
tinued for more than three or four days at a time. 

349. The field medicine chest. — The following supplies are 
ordinarily sufficient for a troop of cavalry for one month, and are 
intended for use in the field when no veterinarian accompanies the 
troops. They should be carefully and tightly packed in a well made 
box with a hinged lid, hasp, staple, and padlock. The drugs should 
be kept in glass stoppered bottles, if obtainable, and all bottles and 
boxes should be plainly labeled with name and dost of contents and 
the labels well pasted on. Use the oakum for packing the bottles,. 



94 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

and as it becomes used up for other purposes replace it with sacking 
or other suitable material. To prevent the wasting of medicine in 
the field, great care should be taken not to make up at anyone time 
more than is actually needed. 

Basin, granite, 1-quart 1 

Drenching bottle, pint, leather covered 1 

Twitch, short, to fit in box 1 

Farrier's instrument pocket case, in canvas or 

leather cover 1 

Eye dropper 1 

Graduate glass, 2-ounce 1 

Syringe, metal or hard rubber, 2 to 4 ounces 

capacity 1 

Extra corks, assorted sizes dozen . . 1 

Ammonia, aromatic spiiits of ounces . . 8 

Ammonia liniment do 8 

Belladonna, fluid extract of do ] 

Bandages, cotton dozen . . ] 

Bandages, flannel . do I 

Bichloride of mercury tablets ounces . . 2 

Cotton, absorbent...!! do 16 

Cannabis Indica or Americana do 4 

Creolin or Kreso do 16 

Drying powder do 8 

Ether, nitrous do 8 

Eye lotion, saturated solution of boracic acid, 

ounces 4 

Gauze, antiseptic package . . 1 

Iodine, tincture of ounces. . 8 

Lead acetate do 8 

Oakum pounds. . 2 

Potassium nitrate ounces . . 8 

Potassium permanganate do 2 

Soap, castile pounds . . 1^ 

Tar, pine do l" 

Zinc sulphate ounces. . 8 

Zinc ointment, in 4-ounce tins do 8 

Silk for sutures and needles in packet case. 



CHAPTER VI. 
WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 

Wounds. 

350. A wound is an injury to any part of the body involving a 
separation of the tissues of the affected part. 

Wounds are classified as incised, lacerated, punctured, bruised, and 
gunshot. 

Incised wounds are clean cuts made by a sharp instrument. 

Lacerated wounds are injuries in which the tissues are more or less 
torn. They are made by blunt objects, such as hooks and the teeth 
of horses and mules. 

Punctured wounds are made by pointed objects, such as nails, 
splinters, thorns, and the prongs of forks and rakes. 

Bruised wounds are injuries in which the skin is not broken, 
such as are caused by falls, kicks, the bumping of various parts of 
the body against blunt objects, and by pressure from the saddle and 
collar. 

Gunshot wounds are those made by bullets or pieces of shell. 

Dressings. 

351. A dressing is a form of local treatment producing a contin- 
uous action. It consists in the methodical application, upon the 
surface of a wound, of medical substances, and the use of such 
protective agents as gauze, cotton, or oakum, suitably arranged 
and held in position by bandages or other means. 

Wounds are not healed by treatment. The object of treatment 
is to keep the injured parts clean and protected, and nature repairs 
them. Cleanliness is, therefore, the all-important principle in their 
handling. Not only should the wound itself be clean but also the 
dressings, the instruments, and the vessels in which these are con- 
tained. 

The person doing the dressing should have his hands thoroughly 
clean, and should procure in a clean basin or bucket an antiseptic 

106233°— 17 7 95 



96 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

solution, and a sufficient quantity of clean cotton, gauze, or oakum. 
He should also make ready the necessary instruments, as follows: 

Instruments.— Scissors, knife, forceps, probe, syringe, and a needle 
and some thread, if required ; all to be clean and placed in a tray or a 
basin and immersed in any good antiseptic solution, except bichloride 
of mercury, which will corrode them. 

General Treatment of Wounds. 

352. Stop the bleeding- (hemorrhage). — If bleeding is profuse 
and from large vessels, the first step is to stop the flow of blood. 
This may be done by grasping the bleeding vessel or vessels with 
the forceps and tying them with a piece of silk, string, horsehair, 
or any suitable material which may be at hand. 

If the vessel can not be tied, a thick pad made of cotton, gauze, 
oakum, or clean cloth may be made and bandaged tightly over the 
wound. This arrangement is called a corn-press and should not be 
kept on for more than three or four hours, after which it must be 
removed and a clean dressing with less pressure applied. 

If the wound be in a location which will not permit bandaging, 
the bleeding may be stopped by packing it tightly with cotton or 
gauze held in place by stitches in the skin drawn tightly over the 
packing. 

Slight hemorrhages, such as follow injuries to the small vessels and 
capillaries, may be checked by baths of cold water or by compresses 
of cotton or oakum, either dry or soaked in a solution of tincture of 
chloride of iron. 

353. Clean the wound and remove all foreign bodies. — When 
the bleeding has stopped, cut the hair from the edges of the wound 
and remove all dirt, clots of blood, splinters, and foreign bodies 
of every kind. This may be done by carefully syringing the parts 
with clean warm water, or a warm antiseptic solution. Foreign 
bodies may be removed with the forceps or by passing small pieces 
of cotton soaked in an antiseptic solution gently over the surface of 
the wound. These"pieces of cotton must be thrown away after using 
and not put back in the solution. The object of this is to keep the 
solution and the rest of the material clean. Wounds that are clean 
and dry should not be washed. 

354. Apply an antiseptic. — Tincture of iodine, iodoform, boracie 
acid, or a solution of carbolic acid, creolin, or bichloride of mercury. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 97 

355. Close the wound. — Sutures and bandages are used for this 
purpose, but no wound that has been dirty must ever be entirely- 
closed. 

Sutures as a rule may be dispensed with entirely. They may 
occasionally be used in parts where there is little flesh, such as 
around the forehead, eyelids, and nose. They are less useful in 
fleshy parts, because the movements of the muscles and the swelling- 
resulting from the inflammation of the injured tissues cause them 
to pull out. Again, sutures must not be used when the edges of the 
wound are badly torn. 

In applying sutures, the borders of the wound must be brought 
together in their natural position, care being taken not to allow 
the edges of the skin to curl inward. The thread, with the aid 
of a needle, is passed through the skin at one side of the wound 
and out at the other. The sutures should be from one-fourth to 
one-half an inch from each edge, about three-fourths of an inch apart, 
and their depth should be about equal to their distance from the 
edge of the Wound. They should be drawn just tight enough to 
bring the edges of the skin together. As a rule, they should be 
removed in about eight days. 

356. Drainage.— In all wounds drainage is necessary for the 
removal of serum and pus that would otherwise accumulate in them. 
The escape of such material must be provided for at the lowest part 
of the wound. If the wound be a vertical (upright) one, this may be 
accomplished by leaving out a stitch at- the bottom. In horizontal 
wounds (woundarunning lengthwise with the body), a small vertical 
opening must be made below the line of stitches. 

357. Di 3ssings.— Wounds that have been sutured and also 
wounds that are to be treated without suturing, should be dried 
carefully with dry gauze or cotton, painted with tincture of iodine, 
or dusted with an antiseptic powder, covered with dry gauze or 
cotton and a bandage applied. Or, cotton soaked in an antiseptic 
solution may be put on and held in position by a bandage, care 
being taken to avoid undue pressure. 

If the location of the wound will not permit bandaging, the in- 
jured parts may be painted with tincture of iodine or dusted with an 
antiseptic powder, and covered with a clean piece of cloth or gunny 
sack, the inside of which may be lined with a piece of gauze large 
enough to cover the wound. 

358. Rest and restraint. — This will depend entirely upon the 
nature and extent of the wound. If the injury be slight, the animal 



98 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

may continue at work; otherwise he may be kept in a box stall, 
cross-tied, or placed in slings. 

359. After care. — All wounds should be kept dry, and dressings 
should be changed only often enough to keep the wound clean. 
As little washing as possible should be done, and the parts should be 
sopped instead of rubbed. After cleaning and drying a new dressing 
must be applied . 

360. Flies. — The healing of wounds that can not be covered is 
sometimes retarded by the presence of flies. Such wounds should 
be painted once or twice daily with either of the following prepara- 
tions: 

A. B. 

Creolin, | ounce. Carbolic acid, 3 ounces. 

Oil of tar, 1 ounce. Camphor, 8 ounces. 

Oil, olive, 10 ounces. Mix. 

Mix. 

361. Maggots (screw worms). — Wounds sometimes get fly- 
blown and maggots appear. Their presence is recognized by a thin 
bloody discharge from the wound and the red, angry appearance of 
its edges. If the bottom of the wound is carefully examined, move- 
ment of the worms may be seen. 

Treatment. — With forceps, pick out all the worms that are visible 
and wipe out the cavity with a swab of cotton that has been saturated 
with a solution of carbolic, acid 1 to 5. Or turpentine 1 part and 
olive oil 3 parts may be used in the same way. 

362. Excessive granulations (proud flesh). — In sluggish, 
slow-healing wounds, small rounded, fleshy masses are often formed, 
which protrude beyond the edges of the wound . These fleshy masses 
are called excessive granulations or proud flesh. 

Treatment. — The growths must be kept down by the use of 
astringents, or caustics, such as alum, nitrate of silver, or sulphate of 
copper or zinc. 

Special Treatment of Wounds. 

363. Incised wounds. — See "General treatment of wounds." 
Lacerated wounds. — Trim away all torn and ragged edges and treat 

as directed under general treatment of wounds. If pockets are 
formed, provide drainage. 

Punctured wounds. — Punctured wounds, except those around 
joints, should be carefully probed to ascertain if any foreign bodies 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 99 

are present. If so, they must be removed, and, if the wound runs 
in a downward direction, an opening should be made a little lower 
down to allow for drainage. The wound is then swabbed out with a 
strip of gauze that has been saturated with tincture of iodine, or it 
may be syringed out very carefully with an antiseptic solution, care 
being taken not to force the stream in a downward direction. After 
cleaning the interior, a dusting powder should be applied to the sur- 
face. 

364. Punctured wounds or joints and tendon sheaths. — 
Punctures of the synovial membrane of joints or tendons, which allow 
the synovia to escape, are always serious and often result in perma- 
nent disability or death of the animal. The conditions are commonly 
known as open joint and open bursa, respectively, 

Treatment. — Do not probe unless a foreign body is known to be 
present, as the introduction of the probe, even though clean, may 
injure the delicate structures of the joint or tendon sheath. 

Remove the hair; cleanse the parts, but do not use the syringe; 
paint the opening of the wouna with tincture of iodine, apply a 
biniodide of mercury blister, and cover with gauze and a bandage. 
Place the animal in slings or a cross-tie; clean the wound daily, if 
required; paint with tincture of iodine, and rebandage. If the wound 
be a large one, omit the blister and treat with antiseptics. 

Feed laxative foods and keep fresh, cool water before the animal at 
all times. 

BRUISED WOUNDS (CONTUSIONS) AND ABRASIONS. 

365. Under this heading are considered sore backs and sore shoul- 
ders, etc.; otherwise known as chafes and galls of the back or shoul- 
ders or any part that comes in contact with the saddle, harness, or 
equipment. 

366. Sore backs. — This term includes all injuries produced by 
the pressing or rubbing of any part of the saddle or saddle equipment 
againstthe skin and its underlying tissues, the nature and severity 
of such injuries depending upon the amount of pressure and the length 
of its duration. 

Sway-backed horses, roach-backed horses, horses with bulging 
barrels or barrels tapering upward and backward, or horses with 
abnormally high or abnormally low withers, are more liable to such 
injuries than others. 

Causes. — 1. Faulty placing of the saddle, i. e., too far forward or 
too far back. 2. Improper folding of the blanket; blanket wrinkled, 



100 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

dirty, and containing sand, burrs, splinters, thorns, etc., in its folds. 
3. Improper adjustment of the equipment, and unequal distribution 
of weight. 4. Drawing the cincha too tight and improper adjust- 
ment of the cincha and quarter straps. 5. Poor riding, i. e., lounging 
in the saddle and shifting from one side to the other. 6. Improper 
adjustment of the stirrup strap, i. e., too long or too short or unequal 
in length. 7. Long continuous work under the saddle. 8. Pro- 
fused sweating and rain. 

Symptoms. — Hard, hot, painful swellings, appearing usually 
within an hour after unsaddling. These lesions are best detected 
by passing the hand over the back, when swelling' and tenderness 
may be discovered. 

> As a result of continuous pressure the skin often becomes bloodless, 
dies, dries up, and gets hard and leatherlike. This dead piece of 
skin is called a sitfast. Later, if the animal is continued in use, the 
skin sloughs off, leaving raw sores of various sizes and depths. In- 
juries to the withers or along the top of the spine, frequently ter- 
minate in abscesses. (See Abscess.) 

Treatment. — Ascertain and remove the cause, if possible. In fresh 
cases, apply cold irrigations or baths with gentle hand rubbing. 
This is to be followed by the application of cold in the form of packs 
saturated and kept wet with cold water and held gently in position 
by means of a surcingle or bandage. The pad may be of oakum, 
or it may be made by folding a gunny sack three or four times. Ice 
packs or cold lotions may also be used. 

Injuries to the withers and ridge of the spine should be irrigated 
or bathed with cold water, but without pressure and without massage. 

When sitfasts appear, apply warm baths or warm linseed poultices 
until the dead skin becomes loose; it is then removed with the forceps 
and a knife, after which the injury is treated with tincture of iodine 
or an antiseptic powder. 

Slight galls, chafes, or abrasions (spots rubbed bare) are treated 
with white lotion, zinc oxide ointment, powdered boracic acid, or a 
solution of tannic acid 1 ounce in a pint of witchhazel or alcohol. 

Prevention. — Adjust carefully and properly the saddle, the blanket, 
and the equipment; keep the blanket clean, dry, and free from for- 
eign material; sit properly in the saddle, and dismount frequently 
and walk. 

After long marches, loosen the cincha slightly and leave the saddle 
on for from 30 minutes to an hour after dismounting. Where an 
injury has occurred, the blood vessels are compressed and almost 
bloodless. If pressure be now suddenly and completely removed, 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 101 

blood is vigorously forced into the paralyzed vessels and may rup- 
ture their walls. On the other hand, if the saddle be allowed to 
remain for some time in position, circulation may be gradually re- 
stored without injury. 

367. Injuries from packsaddles and aparejos. — The causes, 
nature, and treatment of these injuries are thesameas those produced 
by the riding saddle. 

368. Sore shoulders. 

Causes. — Dirty, ill-fitting, and improperly made collars; excessive 
weight of the pole, causing pressure on the top of the base of the 
neck; improper adjustment of the hames or trace plates; unequal 
length of traces; working with head drawn to one side; long con- 
tinuous work in the harness; rough roads, and poor driving. 

Treatment. — Same as for sore backs (par. 366). 

Prevention. — Fit the collars properly and keep them clean; keep 
the mane closely trimmed at the base of the neck; adjust the pole 
chains properly, and drive with care. 

369. Bruises of the limbs. 

Causes. — Kicks, falls, treads, and, in draft animals, blows from 
the pole. 

Treatment. — Cold irrigations and cold packs. When the inflams 
mation is reduced apply tincture of iodine or a blister, if required. 

GUNSHOT WOUNDS. 

370. Gunshot wounds are those made by bullets or pieces of shell. 
Treatment. — Do not probe for bullets unless they can be distinctly 

felt through the skin. Leave them where they are and they will 
either become embedded in the tissues or expelled by the proces- 
of suppuration (formation of pus). 

The tract of the bullet must not be irrigated nor should any attempt 
be made to explore its depths. The point of entrance, and that of 
exit, too, if there be one, should be treated locally with antiseptics, 
preferably tincture of iodine. 

The animal should be watched daily for the formation of an abscess 
which may develop and disclose the location of the bullet. 

SEROUS SACS. 

371. By the term serous sac is meant a collection of serum, a straw- 
colored, sometimes bloody, watery fluid, under the skin. 

Causes. — Blows and bruises, particularly about the buttocks. 



102 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Symptoms. — A uniformly soft, painless, fluctuating swelling, vary- 
ing in size from that of an egg to a man's'head . They often resemble 
windgalls and hernias (ruptures of the abdominal wall), from which 
they must be carefully differentiated. 

Treatment. — Bathe twice a day for a week with cold water, and 
follow each bath by applications of white lotion. If, at the end of 
this time the swelling has not disappeared, apply tincture of iodine 
or a blister. About two months are required to effect a cure. Open- 
ing the enlargement is inadvisable and should be left to the vet- 
erinarian. The animal may be worked, except when the swelling 
is so located as to be injured by the saddle or harness. 

SUPPURATION — ABSCESS . 

372. Suppuration. — By this term is meant the formation and 
discharge of pus (matter). 

An abscess is a local collection of pus in the tissues of- any part of 
the body. From eight days to two or three weeks' time is usually 
required for its development. 

Causes.— It is usually the result of an inflammation caused by an 
injury. Abscesses also frequently occur in the course of certain 
diseases, such as distemper, pneumonia, and pharyngitis. 

Symptons. — Heat, pain, and swelling in the injured part. The 
swelling is at first small and hard. It gradually increases in size, 
however, and finally becomes soft and elevated in the middle into 
a prominent hairless spot. This is called pointing or coming to a 
head. In a few days after pointing begins the abscess opens and its 
contents (pus) escape. 

Treatment. — Small abscesses in the early stages may be scattered 
by the application of cold packs or tincture of iodine. The best 
results, however, are usually obtained by the use of warm baths or 
warm linseed poultices. When the swelling becomes soft in the center, 
it should be opened at its lowest point, using a sharp instrument to 
cut through the skin and a blunt one to enlarge the opening and 
prolong it into the cavity of the abscess. A sharp instruments must 
not be deeply inserted into the cavity, as large blood vessels may be 
injured and fatal bleeding follow. 

After opening, the cavity must be flushed once or twice daily 
with an antiseptic solution until pus ceases to flow. 

Abscesses, like serous sacs, sometimes resemble windgalls and 
hernias from which they must be carefully differentiated, as opening 
a hernia would be fatal. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



103 



BURNS AND SCALDS. 

373. Treatment. — Bathe or tie up the parts with any mild 
antiseptic solution, or dust the surface with borac acid or flour and 
cover with cotton and a bandage. If sloughing occurs, treat as an 
ordinary wound. 

Injuries Receiving Special Names. 



374. Capped elbow (shoe boil). 

Causes. — A bruise at the point of the elbow produced by lying 
upon a hard unbedded floor. 

Symptoms. — A hot, painful swelling at the point of the elbow 

Treatment. — Cold irrigations and white 
lotion baths. After the inflammation has 
been reduced, apply tincture of iodine 
daily or blister. If an abscess forms and 
the swelling bursts, syringe out daily with 
an antiseptic solution. Cross-tie the ani- 
mal during treatment. Operative meas- 
ures must be left to the veterinarian. 

Prevention. — Keep the stall floor level 
and give plenty of bedding. 

375. Capped hock (fig. 38). 
Causes. — A bruise to the point of the 

hock caused by lying upon hard, un- 
bedded floors, and by kicking against the 
stall or other hard objects. 

Symptoms. — A hot painful swelling at 
the point of the hock. 

Treatment.— Same as for capped elbow. 

Prevention. — If due to kicking in the 
stall, pad the heel posts with gunny sacks 
and straw. If due to lying on a hard 
floor, provide a good bed. 

'376. Fistulous withers (fig. 39).— 
An abscess in the vicinity of the withers 
having a chronic discharge of pus from 
one or more openings. It may involve the soft structures only, or it 
may extend to the bones. 

Causes. — Bruises, usually from the saddle or collar. 

Symptoms and treatment. — See abscesses, paragraph 372. 




Fig. 38, 5.— Capped hock. 



104 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



377. Poll Evil (fig. 40). — An abscess in the region of the poll. 

Causes. — Bruises caused by the animal striking the poll against 
some overhead object, or by pressure due to pulling back on the 
halter. 

Symptoms and treatment. — See abscesses, paragraph 372. 




Fig. 39.— Fistulous withers. 



378. Rope burns. — Abrasions or lacerations usually at the 
back of the hind-pasterns. 

Causes. — Getting the foot over the halter shank, picket line, or 
lariat. It is generally the result of leaving the halter shank too long 
in tying. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



105 



Symptoms. — The injury may be a simple chafe of the skin or it 
may involve the underlying tendons and ligaments. 

treatment. — Trim away all torn and ragged edges, clean the wound 
thoroughly and apply an antiseptic. See paragraphs 347, 354, 357, 




Fig. 40.— Poll evil. 



358, and 359. Should the parts at any time become dry, hard, and 
painful, they may be softened by daily applications of zinc oxide 
ointment or creolin and olive oil (creolin \ ounce, olice oil \\ ounces). 



106 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Inflammation. 

379. Inflammation. — A condition into which the tissues of the 
body enter as a result of an injury. 

Symptoms. — Pain, heat, swelling, and redness (invisible in dark 
skin and in skin covered with hair), all of which occur as the result 
of an increased flow of blood to the injured part. 

Treatment. — Bathe or irrigate the inflamed area several times 
daily with cold water. When the parts will admit it, cold packs 
may be applied. 



CHAPTER VII. 
DETECTION OF LAMENESS— DISEASES OF BONE. 

Detection op Lameness. 

380. Lameness. — Lameness is any irregularity in the gait. 

381. Classification of lameness. — Lameness is divided into 
two classes: 

(a) Swinging-leg lameness, which is shown by a shortened stride 
and more or less dragging of the leg. Seen in diseased and injured 
muscles. 

(6) Supporting-leg lameness, shown when the leg supports the 
weight of the body. This form occurs in diseases and injuries of 
bones, tendons, ligaments, and the foot. 

382. Severe lameness is readily recognized, even when the 
animal is at rest. Distinct symptoms, such as pointing or frequently 
raising the injured limb, are usually seen, the animal's instinct 
leading him to place the affected part in a position to relieve the 
pain. 

383. Examination for lameness. — In making an examination 
for lameness, the animal, having free use of his head, should be 
led at a slow trot toward and from the observer. Too short a hold 
on the halter shank prevents free play of the muscles concerned in 
locomotion. 

In examining the lame limb, place it in its natural position and in- 
spect its various parts both with the hand and eye, comparing them 
carefully with those of the sound leg for the purpose of detecting 
differences in shape, size, temperature, and sensitiveness to touch 
and pressure. 

In all cases examine the foot thoroughly and carefully, removing 
the shoe if necessary. Heat, pain, and swelling are valuable guides 
in the detection of lameness. The hoof tester or pinchers, carefully 
and gently employed, is useful in locating injuries of the foot. 

384. Lame in one fore leg. — When lame in one fore leg, the 
right one, for instance, the head nods (drops) more or less when 
weight is put on the left fore leg, while the head jerks up at the 
moment the right leg (the lame one) is placed upon the ground. 
Hence, the head of the lame animal always nods when the foot of the 
sound leg is placed on the ground. 

107 



108 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



385. Lame in both fore legs. — Should there be lameness in 
both forelegs, the action is stilty (stiff); the natural, elastic stride is 
wanting; the steps are shortened, and the feet are kept close to the 
ground. The hind legs are invariably picked up higher than usual, 
the shoulders appear stiff, and the head is carried rather high, while 
the lumbar region is arched. 

386. Lame in one hind leg*. — Lameness behind is detected by 
trotting the horse from the observer, the croup being the part to be 

watched , since it drops with the 
sound leg and rises with the 
lame one. 

387. Lame in both hind 
legs. — When lame in both hind 
legs, the stride is shortened and 
awkward ; the fore legs are kept 
back of the verticaHine, and 
are apt to be raised higher than 
usual while the head is low- 
ered. Backing is difficult. It 
is almost impossible to keep 
the animal at a trot when it is 
lame in more than one leg. 

Horses lame in both fore or 
both hind legs show a waddling 
gait behind, often mistaken for 
lameness in the lumbar region. 
This peculiar motion is simply 
due to the fact that the hind 
legs are unduly advanced under 
the body for their own relief or 
that of the front legs. 

Close attention should be 

Fig. 41.-Ringbone. P aid to th ? .animal's action as 

he turns while being trotted to 

and from the observer, as at this moment — that is, while he turns — any 

hitch becomes visible, as, for instance, in spavin or stringhalt lameness. 

Diseases of Bone. 

388. Ringbone (fig. 41).— A ringbone is a bony enlargement 
occurring in the region of the long and short pastern bones. It 
occurs more frequently in the front legs than in the hind ones. 




MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



10* 



Causes. — Sprains, bruises, hard and fast work, and penetrating 
wounds involving the periosteum; improper shoeing, such as 
cutting the toe too short or leaving the heels too high, or leaving 
one side of the hoof wall higher than the other. 

Symptoms. — Lameness, which may disappear with exercise, is 
usually the first symptom observed. Later, there appears a hard, 
painless swelling, over which the skin is freely moveable. 

Treatment. — Remove the shoe and level the foot. Use cold baths 
and cold packs for a week, 
then apply a biniodide of mer- 
cury blister. Keep the animal 
in a level stall and give per- 
fect rest for four to six weeks. 

389. Side bone (fig. 42).— 
Side bone is a condition in 
which the cartilages of the 
foot have changed to bone. 
The disease is most frequently 
seen in heavy draft horses and 
in draft and pack mules. The 
front feet are affected more 
often than the hind ones, and 
the outer cartilage suffers more 
frequently than the inner one. 

Causes. — Concussion pro- 
duced by fast work on hard 
roads ; allowing the feet to be- 
come dry and hard; lack of 
frog pressure; mechanical in- 
juries, such as treads and 
similar wounds ; and improper 
shoeing, i. e., leaving the heel 
too hign or the use of high 
heel calks. 

Symptoms.— A hard, unyielding condition of the cartilages of the 
foot, with or without lameness. 

Treatment. — This is necessary only when the animal is lame. In 
such cases remove the shoe, level the foot, and stand the horse in 
cold water for several hours a day, or apply a swab around the coronet 
and keep it wet with cold water. As soon as the inflammation has 
disappeared, apply a blister of biniodide of mercury over the part 
and keep the animal quiet in a level stall for three weeks. 




Fig. 42.— Sidebone. 



110 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



390. Spavin (fig. 43). — Spavin is a disease affecting the bones of 
the hock joint and usually appears as a bony enlargement on the 
inner and lower part of the hock. 

Causes. — Violent strains in rearing, jumping, pulling, or galloping, 
and severe rapid work, especially under the saddle. Tied-in hocks 
and sickle-shaped hocks are more likely to suffer than those that are 

broad and well developed. 

Symptoms. — The develop- 
ment of spavin is usually 
accompanied by lameness, 
which, in the earlier stages 
of the disease, is noticed only 
when the animal is first 
moved after a rest, at which 
time the toe is generally 

E laced on the ground first, the 
eel not being brought down 
until the step is nearly com- 
pleted. The bony enlarge- 
ment may be present when 
the lameness appears, or it 
may not develop for several 
weeks thereafter. 

Treatment. — The same as 
that prescribed for ringbone 
(par. 388). 

391. Splints (fig. 44).— 
Splints are bony enlarge- 
ments, usually situated be- 
tween the inner splint bone 
Fig. 43.-Spavin. *£ the cannon bone. They 

seldom oGcur on the hind leg. 
Causes. — Fast work on hard roads; improper shoeing favoring inter- 
fering and unequal distribution of weight on the leg. 

Symptoms. — In the early stages there is slight swelling, increased 
heat, pain on pressure, and more or less thickening. Lameness may 
or may not be present. When present, it disappears in the later 
stages and the swelling becomes hard . 

Treatment— Necessary only when the animal is lame. If due to 
improper shoeing, remove the shoe and level the foot. Shower the 
part daily with cold water and follow each shower with a white 




MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Ill 



lotion pack. When the inflammation has disappeared, apply a 
blister of biniodide of mercury and keep the animal quiet in a level 
stall for three weeks. 

Dislocations. 



392. A dislocation is the displacement or separation of the parts 
of a joint. 

393. Dislocation of the patella (stifled). — A displacement of 
the patella from the end of the 
femur. The displacement 
may be upward or outward. 

Causes . — Falls , slipping 
when trying to get up, ana step- 
ping down from an elevated 
position to the ground or floor 
below. It occurs sometimes 
as a result of weakness after or 
during the course of debili- 
tating diseases. 

Symptoms. — The displace- 
ment may be stationary, or the 
patella may slip in and out with 
every step . In the former, the 
leg is rigidly extended back- 
ward, the horse, even with as- 
sistance, being unable to bend 
the leg or carry it forward . 

Treatment. — Reduce the dis- 
location. By suddenly mov- 
ing the animal backward the 
bone may return to its normal 
position. This failing, a rope 

is placed around the pastern Fig. 44— Splint. 

and the leg drawn forward 

and upward by an assistant, at the same time the operator presses 
the patella forward and inward with both hands. As the bone goes 
into place a clicking sound may be heard, and the animal at once 
regains control of the leg. 

If the joint be painful and swollen, shower with cold water and 
bathe with white lotion until the inflammation is reduced, then 
apply a cantharides blister and give four weeks' rest. 

106233°— 17 8 




112 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Should the dislocation recur, a rope should be fastened to the 
pastern and attached to a collar about the animal's neck. The rope 
should be drawn just tight enough to prevent the animal from ex- 
tending his leg to the rear but allowing him to stand on it. The 
rope is kept on until the effect of the blister has passed away. 

Fractures. 

, 394. A fracture is a break in a bone. A fracture may occur 
in any part of the bony framework. The bones of the limbs, how- 
ever, are more likely to suffer than those of other parts of the body. 

A simple fracture is one in which the bone is broken into but two 
parts, the skin remaining unbroken. 

A compound fracture is one in which the broken ends of the bones 
protrude through the skin. 

A fracture may also be complete or incomplete. An incomplete 
fracture is one in which the bone is not entirely broken across. 

Causes. — Falls, kicks, blows, or any form of mechanical violence. 

395. Fracture of the bones of the limbs. 

Symptoms. — Great and suddenly appearing lameness; excessive 
mobility; crepitation (a ciackling or grating sound made by the 
rubbing together of the broken ends of the bone); and inability to 
bear weight on the injured limb. The animal usually evinces great 
pain and marked swelling occurs within a few hours. 

Treatment.— Complete fractures are usually^ incurable and the 
animal should be destroyed to terminate suffering. 

In incomplete fractures, or when such a fracture is suspected, the 
animal must be relieved from work and kept from hang down for a 
month, either by being cross-tied or placed in a sling. 

398. Fracture of the lower jaw. — This refers to a chipping 
or splintering of the bone by the bit or the curb chain. 

Causes. — Rough handling of severe bits and tight curb chains, 
and the use of chains or ropes passed through the mouth and around 
the jaw. 

Symptoms. — The animal fights the bit and resists any attempt to 
handle the mouth. The mucous membrane covering the bone is 
swollen, hot, and painful, with perhaps a small fragment of bone 
sticking through it. In many cases the covering of the bone is 
entirely torn away. Suppuration occurs in a few days and the 
wound emits a very foul odor. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 113 

Similar injuries sometimes occur on the lower margin of the bone 
at the seat of the curb chain. 

Treatment. — Clean the part thoroughly and remove all fragments 
of bone. Tincture of iodine or a solution composed of camphor gum 
8 ounces and carbolic, acid 3 ounces is then carefully applied to the 
bottom of the wound by means of a very small cotton swab. All 
particles of food must be removed and the dressing repeated daily 
until healing occurs. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

DISEASES AND INJURIES OF MUSCLES, TENDONS, AND 
LIGAMENTS. 



Sprains. 

397. Sprains are injuries due to excessive exertion. They 

affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments, the fibers of which are 

stretched or torn, causing inflammation, 

sometimes followed by contraction and, 

in muscles, atrophy (wasting away). 

398. Sprains of the muscles. — Mus- 
cle sprains occur in various parts of the 
trunk and limbs, and are due to slips or 
falls. When sprained, the muscle be- 
comes swollen, hot, and painful and loses 
its power of contraction. Later, it some- 
times atrophies. Owing to the loss of 
function, the condition resembles paral- 
ysis, but in paralysis there is no heat, 
pain, or swelling. 

399. Sprains of the flexor tendons 
(fig. 45). — The tendons at the back of the 
cannon are frequently injured, especially 
those of the fore legs. 

Causes. — Long toes and low heels; vio- 
lent efforts and sudden checks, as in j ump- 
ing; and long-continued exertion in 
which the muscles tire, thereby increas- 
ing the strain on the tendons. 
Symptoms. — Lameness, corresponding 
in degree with th e severity of the injury ; swelling, usually most promi- 
nent at the middle third of the cannon ; heat and sensitiveness to touch . 
Treatment. — See paragraph 407. 
400. Sprain of the suspensory ligament. 
Causes. — Sudden violent efforts and long-continued exertion. 
Symptoms. — Lameness. Heat, pain, and swelling in the region 
between the cannon bone and the tendon of the deep flexor of the 




Fig. 45.— Sprained tendons. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



115 



foot, the swelling usually being most pronounced just above the 
fetlock. 

Treatment. — See paragraph 407. 

401. Sprain of the plantar ligament (Curb. fig. 4G). 
Causes. — Violent efforts at rearing, pulling, and jumping. Usually 

seen in horses with weak, narrow, overbent hocks. 

Symptoms. — A firm swelling at the back and lower part of the 
hock, about 4 inches below 
its point, giving the region 
a curved appearance when 
viewed from the side. Lame- 
ness is rare. 

Treatment. — When lameness 
is absent, treatment is usually 
unnecessary. If the swelling 
is painful and hot, treat as 
prescribed under general 
treatment of sprains. (Par. 
407.) 

402. Sprains of the hock, 
fetlock, and pastern joints. 

Causes. — Violent exertion, 
slips, stepping on stones, trav- 
eling over rough, uneven 
ground. 

Symptoms. — Lameness, ac- 
companied by heat, pain on 
pressure, and swelling. 

Treatment. — See paragraph 
407. Fig. 46.-Curb. 




Bursal and Synovial Enlargements. 



403. Under this heading are described bog spavin, ihoroughpin, 
and windgalls (wind puffs) of the fetlock. These enlargements are 
chronic nonsensitive conditions which rarely cause lameness. 

404. Bog spavin. — A distention of the joint capsule of the hock, 
due to the presence of an abnormal amount of synovia, which causes 
the capsule to bulge outward and forward. 

Causes. — Long continued hard work, particularly at jumping, 
pulling, and galloping. 



116 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Symptoms. — A soft puffy swelling situated in front and a little 
to the inside of the hock. Acute inflammation and lameness are 
rare. 

Treatment. — Not usually necessary. If the parts are hot and pain- 
ful, give rest and reduce the inflammation by cold irrigations. After 
a week of this treatment, apply tincture of iodine once a day for 10 
days. This failing, a cantharides blister should be used. 

405. Thoroughpin. — A condition usually associated with bog 
spavin. 

Causes. — Same as bog spavin. 

Symptoms.— A. soft fluctuating swelling at the upper and back 
part of the hock, between the point of the hock and the lower end 
of the tibia. 

Treatment. — Seldom required . See ' ' Bog spavin. ' ' 

406. Windgalls (windpuffs) of the fetlock. — A distention of 
the synovial bursae of the flexor tendons at the back of the fetlock 
joint. 

Symptoms. — Soft puffy enlargements about the back part of the 
fetlock. 

Causes and treatment. — See "Bog spavin.". 

Treatment of Sprains. 

407. Treatment of sprains. — Rest. Remove the shoes, level 
the feet, and place the animal in a level, well bedded box stall. 
(See pars. 216 to 221.) 

Bathe or shower the injured part for one-half hour twice a day 
with cold water and follow each bath with packs of white lotion (half 
strength) or cold water; or a lotion composed of witch hazel 1 pint, 
lead acetate 1 ounce, water 1 quart may be applied. Continue this 
treatment for one week, then use warm baths followed by warm 
packs or soap liniment. If, after the inflammation is reduced, the 
parts still remain swollen, apply tincture of iodine once a day^ for 10 
days. This failing, apply the following blister and repeat in two 
weeks, if necessary: 

Cantharides dram. . 1 

Biniodide of mercury do 1 

Cosmoline or lard do 6 

Mix well. 

In chronic sprains of the flexor tendons, shoe with short heel calks 
or thicken the branches of the shoe, or shorten the toe and leave 
the heels and quarters long. 



CHAPTER IX. 
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 

Diseases op the Mouth. 

408. Injuries to the mouth. — These consist of lacerations of 
the membrane lining the lips, cheeks, and tongue. 

Causes. — Blows; coarse, rough food materials; faulty teeth, and 
foreign substances, such as splinters, pieces of glass, and irritating 
plants in the forage. The tongue is sometimes torn by the bit and 
by rough handling in examining the mouth. In halter pullers it 
may be severely bitten. 

Symptoms.- — Slobbering; difficult and painful mastication; and 
laceration, heat, swelling, and redness of the injured parts. 

Treatment.- — Remove the cause. Flush out the mouth twice a 
day with a solution of potassium permanganate, \ dram to a quart of 
water, or alum, \ ounce to a quart of water, or creolin, 2 drams in a 
quart of water may be used in the same way. 

Diseases of the Teeth. 

409. Irregular wearing of the teeth. 

Causes. — Abnormal inequality in the width of the upper and lower 
jaws. The upper jaw being the wider, the inner edges of the lower 
molars and the outer edges of the upper ones sometimes become 
abnormally long and sharp (sharp teeth). These sharp points fre- 
quently injure the cheeks and tongue. 

The milk molars are sometimes not promptly shed , their remnants, 
remaining as caps on the crowns of the permanent teeth. 

In undershot and in overshot (parrot mouth) the teeth do not wear 
on each other, the result being that those receiving little or no wear 
become excessively long and injure the soft structures and bone 
with which they come in contact. 

In old animals, due to unequal hardness of opposing teeth, the 
molars may become uneven in length, the harder ones sometimes. 

117 



118 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

wearing away the opposite ones and projecting into and injuring the 
soft tissues and bone at their roots. 

Symptoms. — Slobbering; difficult mastication; holding the head to 
one side while eating or drinking; dropping balls of partly chewed 
food from the mouth (quidding), and retaining food in the mouth 
for some time after eating. 

Treatment. — A dental operation is required. 

410. Decay of the teeth. — Confined almost exclusively to the 
molars. 

Causes. — Injuries, such as splitting of the tooth or the breaking 
away of the outer covering (enamel). 

Symptoms. — An offensive odor about the mouth; slobbering; slow, 
painful, and difficult mastication; holding the head to one side while 
eating or drinking; dropping food from the mouth, and a collection 
of decomposing food around the diseased tooth. The decayed tooth 
has an offensive smell and may be broken, split, or shorter than the 
surrounding ones. If it be an upper one, there may be a discharge 
from the nostril of the same side. 

Treatment. — The diseased tooth must be removed. This is a 
difficult and dangerous operation, which only a veterinarian can 
perform. 

Diseases or the Throat. 

411. Choke. — An obstruction of the throat with a foreign body. 
Causes. — Hurried attempts at swallowing oats, bran (dry), or pieces 

of carrots, apples, etc., before they have been properly masticated. 
Choke may also result from giving balls that are too large or of 
improper shape. 

Symptoms. — Great distress, slobbering, champing the jaws, escape 
of saliva through the nostrils, and frequent attempts at vomiting, 
the head being drawn toward the chest and then suddenly shot out. 
If the obstruction is in the neck it may easily be seen and felt. 

Treatment. — Pass the hand into the pharynx and remove the 
obstruction if within reach. This failing, place the animal in a stall 
free from food and bedding, and put a bucket of water within easy 
reach. In the course of a few hours the obstruction is usually 
swallowed. It may, however, remain in the throat for a day or two. 
Further treatment is surgical. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 119 

Diseases op the Stomach and Intestines. 

412. Chronic indigestion. — A chronic inflammation of the 
stomach and intestines. 

Causes. — Irregularity in feeding and watering, food poor in quality 
(spoiled or coarse), worms, old age, and improper mastication, due 
to bad teeth or + o eating too rapidly. 

Symptoms. — Appetite irregular, depraved, or diminished; con- 
stipation, usually, though there may be diarrhea. Periodic colics 
are frequent, the coat is rough, and the skin is tightly adherent to 
the body (hidebound). The animal has an unthrifty appearance 
and sweats and tires easily when at work. The presence of worms 
is recognized by their appearance in the feces, and by the presence 
of white patches of dried mucus around the anus. 

Treatment. — Examine the mouth and correct existing faults; 
examine the forage and discontinue it if bad. Feed small quan- 
tities of good nut-itious food (steamed oats, bran mashes, grass, etc.) 
at regular intervals; keep a lump of salt where the animal can reach 
it; give plenty of fresh drinking water, and see that the animal is 
regularly exercised and properly groomed. 

If constipation exists, feed bran mashes or grass until the feces 
become soft, then give the following tonic: 

Ounces. 

Gentian, powdered 3 

Nux vomica, powdered 1 

Bicarbonate of soda 3 

Potassium nitrate 3 

Mix and make into 12 powders. Give a powder twice a day. 
Worms are to be removed by turpentine and raw linseed oil, as 
prescribed in paragraph 329, or 1 ounce of creolin in 1 quart of water 
may be given on an empty stomach. The following is also useful: 

Ounces. 

Iron sulphate 1? 

Gentian, powdered 3 

Mix and divide into 12 powders. Give a powder morning and 
evening. When the last powder has been given, give 1£ pints of 
raw linseed oil. 

413. Spasmodic colic (fig. 47). — Spasm of the muscular wall 
of the intestines. 

Causes.— Sudden chilling of the body due to large drinks of cold 
water, or exposure to cold drafts or rains; improper feeding; indigesti- 



120 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



*MS; 




Fig. 47.— Spasmodic colic. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 121 

ble food ; frozen food ; and sudden changes from one variety of food 
to another. 

Symptoms. — Sudden and more or less violent attacks of pain, last- 
ing from 5 to 10 minutes, with a tendency to recur. The animal 
paws, walks about, sweats profusely, rolls, and when the pain is 
severe, may throw himself violently down. During the attacks a 
few pellets of dung may be passed, and the animal may strain as if 
attempting to urinate. The latter symptom must not be mistaken 
for kidney trouble. The temperature is normal or only slightly 
elevated. 

Treatment. — Place the animal in a large, well-bedded stall, or on 
a soft spot of ground where there is plenty of room to roll without 
danger, then give the following drench : 

Spirits nitrous ether ounces. . 2 

Cannabis indica drams. . 3 

Water to make a pint. 

(In the absence of cannabis indica, 1 dram fluid extract of bella- 
donna may be used. Sulphuric ether or aromatic spirits of ammonia 
may be used instead of nitrous ether.) 

Give at one dose. If there is no relief in one-half hour, give 1£ 
pints linseed oil or 6 drams of aloes. Give rectal injections of 5 or 6 
gallons of warm water. Rub and massage the belly. The spirits 
of nitrous ether and cannabis indica may be repeated in one hour 
if necessary. 

Withhold food for 12 hours after all pain has disappeared, and feed 
sparingly for the next day or two. 

414. Flatulent colic (wind colic). — A painful affection of the 
stomach and bowels due to their distention with gas. 

Causes. — Improper foods, such as musty or moldy oats or corn, or 
sour bran; green foods, as corn, clover, and alfalfa, especially when 
eaten wet or frosted; new hay and new oats; sudden changes of diet, 
and feeding animals that are overheated and exhausted. The dis- 
ease is frequently observed in wind-suckers and cribbers. 

Symptoms. — Bloating and swelling of the abdomen; continuous 
colicky pains, mild at first, but increasing in severity as the abdomen 
becomes more and more distended with gas. There are no periods 
of ease as in spasmodic colic. The animal may lie down, but for a 
short time only. Walking is painful, breathing is rapid ancLdifficult, 
and there is great restlessness. Temperature normal or slightly 
elevated. 



122 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Treatment. — Put the animal in a comfortable place and drench at 
once with 1^ pints of linseed oil and two ounces of turpentine. If 
there is great pain, drench as directed in paragraph 413. Give fre- 
quent injections of 5 or 6 gallons of warm water and apply blankets 
wrung out in hot water to the belly. 

When the above remedies are not at hand, give 6 drams of aloes 
and 4 drams of salicylic acid in two capsules or made up into two balls. 

Another excellent remedy to be kept on hand for colics of all kinds 
is prepared as follows: 

Ounces. 

Camphor gum 6 

Carbolic acid 2 

Glycerine 12 

Mix the camphor and carbolic acid and let stand for 12 hours, then 
add the glycerine. Dose 1 ounce, given either in a capsule or on the 
tongue with a syringe. The dose may be repeated in two, four, or 
six hours, as indicated. 

When the animal has recovered, feed as directed for spasmodic 
colic (par. 413). 

415. Obstruction colic (impaction of the intestines, stop- 
page of the bowels). — A painful affection of the bowels due to the 
accumulation of food or other material within them. 

Causes. — Heavy feeding and lack of exercise; coarse, indigestible 
food; accumulation of sand and dirt in the bowels when horses are 
fed from the ground or picketed on sand (sand colic) or when watered 
in shallow pools or streams; insufficient water supply, and faulty 
mastication due to defective teeth. 

Symptoms. — Constipation, dullness, and partial or complete loss 
of appetite. As time goes on the animal begins to show signs of 
restlessness and pain, such as pawing, walking round thestall, and 
occasionally looking around at the flank. He finally lies down, 
stretches himself out and remains in that position for perhaps an 
hour or more at a time. If relief is not given the abdomen becomes 
distended with gas, breathing is rapid and difficult, the pain in- 
creases in severity, and death results in from one to three or four days. 

Treatment. — A drench composed of raw linseed oil 1£ pints, and 
turpentine 2 ounces should be given at once. If pain is severe, 
add 4 drams cannabis iridica to the dose. Allow all the water the 
animal will drink; give rectal injections of large quantities (5 to 6 
gallons) of warm water every two or three hours; rub or knead the 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 123 

abdominal walls, and give from five to ten minutes walking exercise 
every hour. If the bowels do not move within 24 hours repeat the 
oil and turpentine. 

416. Enteritis (inflammation of the intestines). 

Causes. — Sudden chilling of the body; drinking large quantities 
of cold water, particularly when the animal is tired and overheated; 
frozen or frost covered food and food that is musty or moldy; sudden 
changes from old to new feed; irritating medicines; blows on the 
abdomen, and twist or obstruction in the intestine. It sometimes 
follows such diseases as flatulent and spasmodic colics. 

Symptoms. — -Intense and continuous colicky pain ; temperature 103 
to 106; mucous membranes of the mouth, nostrils, and eyes red and 
congested; the belly is tucked up and sensitive to pressure, and 
there is an anxious expression about the face. The animal shows 
great restlessness, paws, walks about the stall, lies down carefully, 
rolls, and may try to balance himself on his back. As the d isease pro- 
gresses, gangrene (death) of the bowels sets in after which all pain 
ceases and the animal stands quietly for several hours. Toward 
the last he sighs, breaths hard, staggers, pitches about, falls and dies 
in a state of delirium. The disease is usually fatal, the majority of 
cases dying in from six hours to several days. 

Treatment. — Give one-half ounce cannabis indica in a pint of raw 
linseed oil; apply blankets wrung out in hot water to the abdomen, 
and give frequent rectal injections of lukewarm water. The canna- 
bis may be repeated in three-quarters of an hour if the pain is not 
relieved. In the absence of cannabis indica, 2 drams fluid extract or 
belladonna may be used. During convalesence feed steamed oats, 
bran mashes, oatmeal gruel, etc. 

417. Diarrhea. — A frequent discharge of fluid or semifluid 
evacuations from the bowel s.^ 

Causes. — Sudden changes in diet, particularly from a dry one to 
a moist one; musty or moldy food; large drafts of cold water when 
heated; worms; foreign substances as sand or dirt in the intestines 
and excessive use of purgatives. Animals of a weak constitution 
and those of a nervous temperament often suffer without apparent 
cause. 
Symptoms. — Frequent evacuations of soft or fluid feces. _ 
Treatment. — Give 1^ pints raw linseed oil. If there is no improve- 
ment after the action of the oil has subsided, give tannic acid % dram 
and 1 dram of gum camphor. Repeat every four hours until the 



124 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

diarrhea is diminished, but not until it has become completely- 
checked. If the feces have an offensive odor, give an ounce of 
creolin in a pint of water three times a day; or 1-ounce doses of the 
camphor, carbolic acid, and glycerin preparation (see par. 414) may- 
be given three times daily. If worms are known to be the cause, 
treat as prescribed in paragraph 412. 



CHAPTER X. 
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. 

Diseases op the Nose. 

418. Acute nasal catarrh, (cold in the head). — An acute 
inflammation of the membrane lining the nasal chambers and 
sinuses. 

Causes. — Exposure to wet and cold, particularly when tired and 
heated; damp, poorly ventilated stables, and sudden changes in 
temperature, i. e., from warm to cold. 

Symptoms. — In the early stages there is sneezing or blowing and 
redness of the mucous membrane of the nose. Later a watery dis- 
charge appears, which soon becomes thick and of a grayish or yellow- 
ish color. The membranes of the eyes and mouth are reddened and 
the eyes are watery. In severe cases the disease is ushered in by a- 
chill (shivering), elevation of temperature, and 1 ss of appetite. 

Treatment.— Place the animal in an is- dated stall which is dry, well 
ventilated, and free from drafts. Blanket the body, hand rub the 
legs and bandage them loosely with flannel. Feed bran mashes, 
steamed oats, gruels, etc., and keep plenty of fresh water where the 
animal can readily reach it. Give one-half ounce potassium nitrate 
in the feed or drinking water three times daily, or ammonium chloride 
may be given instead of the potassium nitrate. The following pre- 
scription is excellent in the treatment of all catarrhal conditions; 

Ammonium chloride ounces . . 3 

Quinine sulphate drams. . . 6 

Potassium nitrate ounces. . 3 

Mix and make into 12 powders. Give a powder three times a day. 

After isolating the affected animal, thoroughly disinfect his stail, 
his equipment, the watering trough , and everything with which he 
has come in contact. This rule should be observed in all catarrhal 
diseases in which there is a discharge from the nose. 

419. Chronic nasal catarrh (nasal gleet). — A chronic inflam- 
mation of the membrane lining the nasal chambers and sinuses. 

Causes. — Chronic nasal catarrh sometimes develops from the 
acute. It may result from tumors in the nasal chambers, inflamma- 
tion of the mucous membrane of the sinuses, or from ulceration of 

125 



126 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

the teeth with filling of the sinuses with pus . It may also accompany 
glanders, chronic pharyngitis, and various other diseases of the 
respiratory tract. 

Symptoms. — The principal symptom is a persistent nasal discharge 
of mucus and pus, the quantity and color of which varies greatly; 
it may be creamy, grayish, or tinged with blood. It is usually from 
one nostril only and frequently has a fetid odor. In cases of long 
standing the submaxillary lymph glands are sometimes enlarged, 
and small ulcers which heal without leaving a scar may form in the 
nose. The temperature is usually normal. 

Treatment. — A careful examination of the nostrils, mouth, and 
teeth should be made to determine, if possible, the exact cause. 
If no definite cause can be found, give tonics and plenty of good food. 
The following prescription is useful: 

Nux vomica, powdered drams . . 6 

Iron sulphate do 6 

Copper sulphate do 6 

Gentian, powdered ounces. . 1^ 

Mix and make into 12 powders. Give a powder three times a day. 

When the disease is due to faulty teeth or to pus in the sinuses, the 
treatment is surgical. 

420. Bleeding from the nose. 

Causes. — Blows about the head, injuries to the mucous membrane 
of the nasal cavity, and violent exertion. It may occur during the 
course of such diseases as purpura hemorrhagica, influenza, nasal 
catarrh, glanders, and pneumonia, and is often a symptom of tumors 
and ulcers in the nose. 

Symptoms. — Bleeding from one or both nostrils, the blood escaping 
drop by drop or in a stream. 

Treatment. — Many cases often require no treatment other than rest 
in a quiet place. This failing, the head should be elevated and cold 
water or ice packs applied over the face, between the eyes, and over 
the poll and neck. 

If the bleeding persists, plug the bleeding nostril with gauze, cot- 
ton, or oakum, either dry or soaked in tincture of chloride of iron. 
Wrap the plug in gauze or thin cloth and attach a string before it is 
pushed into the nostril, so that it can be removed after the bleeding 
has stopped, usually within four or five hours. When both nostrils 
are bleeding, plug only one nostril at a time. If the patient is rest- 
less, give one-half ounce cannabis indica. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 127 

Diseases of the Throat. 

421. Laryngitis and pharyngitis (sore throat). — An inflam- 
mation of the membrane lining the larynx and pharynx. 

Causes. — Chilling, due to exposure to draft, cold rams, and sudden 
changes of temperature, i. e., from warm to cold; infection; improper 
ventilation; bruises; injuries to the pharynx from foreign bodies, 
and irritating medicines. 

Symptoms. — Difficulty in swallowing, manifested by the return 
through the nostrils of water and food. Diminution of appetite, 
cough, and stiffness of the neck. The nose is poked out, there is 
more or less slobbering, and pressure on the throat causes pain. 
There is usually a nasal discharge mixed with saliva and particles 
of food. The mucous membranes of the eyes, nostrils, and mouth 
are reddened and swollen, and breathing is often difficult and quick- 
ened. The temperature rises from 2° to 6° above normal, and there 
is swelling of the lymph glands of the lower jaw and throat. 

Treatment. — Isolate the animal in a dry, well ventilated place. 
Blanket warmly and bandage the legs. Feed sloppy bran mashes, 
grass, gruels, or steamed oats. Supply an abundance of fresh drink- 
ing water. Give one-half ounce of ammonium chloride or potassium 
nitrate in the drinking water morning and evening. The bucket 
or vessel in which the water is given should be supported in the 
stall at a height of 3 or 4 feet from the floor, this to enable the animal 
to drink without bending the neck. The lips and nostrils should 
be kept clean and the mouth should be washed several times a day 
with fresh water. In severe cases with marked heat and pain about 
the throat, apply cold compresses. In mild cases ammonia liniment 
may be used. If the temperature is high, give frequent rectal in- 
jections of 2 or 3 gallons of cold water. Do not drench or give balls. 

The following is a suitable prescription: 

Fluid extract belladonna dram. . J 

Pine tar do 1 

Glycerine ounce . . ^ 

This makes one dose. Mix and smear on \he back of the tongue 
and back teeth with a thin stick; give morning and evening until 
relief is afforded. 

106233°— 17 9 



128 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Diseases of the Lungs. 

422. Pneumonia. — An inflammation of lung structure affecting 
one or both lungs. 

Causes. — Over exertion; badly ventilated stables;, exposure to 
cold, especially when heated; infection, and carelessness in drench- 
ing! 

Symptoms. — A severe chill, with a temperature varying from 103° 
to 107°. Then follows redness of the visible mucous membranes; 
rapid, difficult breathing, and a full rapid pulse (from 50 to 80 per 
minute). The nostrils are dilated and the expired air is quite warm. 
The animal is usually constipated at first, and the urine is scanty 
and high-colored. The legs and ears are cold and there is great 
weakness. The patient may remain constantly standing with the 
elbows turned out and the head drooping, or it may lie down for a 
short time only. There is frequently a reddish discharge from the 
nose and there may or may not be a cough. 

Treatment. — Isolate the animal in a clean, dry place free from 
drafts, but abundantly supplied with fresh air. Clothe the body 
according to the season; rub the legs well and bandage with flannel. 
Remove the bandages twice daily, rub the legs well, and reapply. 
Groom as directed in paragraph 214. Feed easily digested food 
(bran mashes, grass, good hay, and steamed oats),' and keep a supply 
of fresh water within reach at all times. Give one-ounce nitrate of 
jwtassium in the drinking water morning and evening. If the tem- 
perature reaches 105° or more, give rectal injections of cold water 
three or four times a day. For great weakness, give nitrous ether 
(2 ounces) in the drinking water three times daily. When the tem- 
perature begins to subside, tonics are indicated. Do not put the 
animal to work for at least a month after all symptoms have dis- 
appeared. 

423. Heaves (broken wind). — A chronic, nonfebrile disease of 
the lungs. 

Causes. — Violent and prolonged exertion; working the animal 
when his stomach and .intestines are distended with food, or when 
he is suffering or convalescing from diseases of the respiratory organs; 
or, the habitual feeding of coarse, bulky, dusty, and indigestible 
food, and foods that are damaged by mold, rust, or decay. 

Symptoms. — A hurried, wheezy, laborious breathing; a double 
lifting of the flanks with each expiration; a short, weak, dry cough; 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 129 

a thin, watery, intermittent nasal discharge, and frequent expul- 
sions of large quantities of gas from the rectum. 

The symptoms are aggravated by damp, muggy weather, by exer- 
cise, and by dusty, coarse foods and overfeeding. 

Treatment. — The disease is incurable and treatment gives only 
relief. 

See that the forage is of the best; water before feeding; dampen 
the food, and feed often and in small amounts. Feed more grain 
and less hay, and give bran mashes, grass, or other laxative foods at 
least three times a week. Allow the animal to rest for one hour 
after feeding, and work slowly. 



CHAPTER XI. 
DISEASES OF THE UROGENITAL SYSTEM. 

Diseases of the Kidneys. 

424. Acute inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis). — A 

rare disease of the horse. 

Causes. — Obstruction to the ureters; musty food; certain poisonous 
plants; exposure to cold; the internal administration of large or- con- 
tinued doses of turpentine ; and the application of cantharides blisters 
over large areas of the body. Most cases are secondary to infectious 
diseases. 

Symptoms. — Fever; hard and frequent pulse, with complete or 
partial suppression of urine, the latter being sometimes the color of 
blood. The animal stands with arched back and legs spread apart; 
it dislikes to move, and if forced to do so the hind legs are dragged; 
there is great uneasiness; and pressure on the loins causes pain. 

Treatment. — Remove the cause and give absolute rest. Avoid 
all irritating drugs, and provide a diet of grass, bran mashes, or other 
easily digested foods. Corn, oats, and grain of all kinds must be 
withheld. In case of marked decrease in the quantity of urine, 
plenty of pure, fresh drinking water must be provided. Give lin- 
seed oil 1 J pints, and apply blankets wrung out in hot water to the 
loins. Keep the patient in a warm stall, rub the body vigorously, 
blanket well and bandage the legs. Give potassium nitrate one- 
half ounce twice daily in the drinking water. 

425. Diabetes insipidus (excessive urination). — A condition 
characterized by great thirst, excessive urination, marked debility 
and rapid loss of flesh. 

Causes. — Moldy food, especially oats; certain poisonous plants, and 
the long continued administration of diuretics, as turpentine and the 
nitrate of potassium. 

_ Symptoms. — Frequent passages of large quantities of clear, water- 
like urine, the total amounting to from 10 to 15 gallons in 24 hours; 
great thirst, the animal drinking as much as 20 or 25 gallons of water 
in a day. 

Treatment. — Remove the cause and give good, clean, and nutritious 
food. If a change of diet is impossible, the forage at hand may be 

130 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 131 

rendered less harmful by spreading it out and exposing it to the sun 
and air. Feed grass whenever obtainable. Give iodine crystals 
in 1-dram doses three times a day in capsule or ball, and reduce the 
dose as the thirst is lessened and the amount of urine diminished. 

Diseases of the Bladder. 

426. Retention of the urine. — Inability to urinate. 

Causes. — Hard , continuous work without an opportunity to urinate ; 
exposure to cold rains; standing in drafts of cold air when hot and 
tired; the presence of stones or tumors in the bladder or urethra, and 
poisonous plants in the hay. It also frequently occurs in a tem- 
porary form as a complication of colic . Some horses refuse to urinate 
outside of their own stable, or where the floor or earth is hard causing 
the urine to splash against their legs. A collection of dirt about the 
end of the penis may also cause it. 

Symptoms. — Frequent and painful attempts to urinate, the urine 
often being passed drop by drop only. By passing the hand into 
the rectum the enlarged bladder may be felt. 

Treatment. — Standing the animal on the grass or in a well-bedded 
stall often results in successful attempts to urinate. This fail- 
ing, pass the hand into the rectum and apply firm but gentle 
pressure to the base of the bladder. If neither of these methods is 
successful, the catheter must be used or the bladder may burst. 
Warm rectal injections and 3-dram doses cannabis indica often gives 
relief. When retention is due to a collection of dirt in the end of the 
penis, a thorough washing of the part may be all that is required. 

Diseases of the Sheath and Penis. 

427. Screw worms (maggots) in the sheath and penis. — 
Screw worms are the immature forms of several species of flies. Dur- 
ing hot weather and in tropical climates these flies frequently deposit 
their eggs just inside the mouth of the sheath, usually in its upper 
portion, or on the end of the penis. In a few hours the eggs hatch 
and large numbers of maggots appear which immediately lacerate 
the skin and burrow into the tissues where they produce destruction 
and injury, even to perforations of the abdominal wall. 

Symptoms. — A thin bloody serum dripping from the mouth of 
the sheath, the latter being often more or less swollen. Just inside 
of the sheath, beneath the abdominal wall, may be found a small, 



132 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

irregular wound discharging a thin bloody fluid . Within this wound 
the maggots may be seen. In case no abrasions are found within the 
sheath, the penis should be withdrawn and carefully examined, pay- 
ing particular attention to the two small pockets at the sides of the 
mouth of the urethra. 

Treatment. — With forceps pick out all the worms that are visible, 
and wipe out the cavity with a swab of cotton that has been saturated 
in a solution of carbolic acid 1 part to 5 parts of water. Creolin full 
strength may be used in the same way, or the wound may be packed 
with calomel. Turpentine 1 part, olive oil 3 parts is also useful. 
After the worms are killed, the wound should be treated with ordi- 
nary antiseptics. 



CHAPTER XII. 

DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY AND LYMPHATIC 
SYSTEM. 

Diseases of the Circulatory System. 

428. Edema of the legs (stocking, dropsy of the legs, filled 
legs). — A chronic condition of the legs in which there is more or less 
swelling. 

Causes. — Debility, heavy feeding, and lack of exercise. 

Symptoms. — Moderate, nonpainful swelling of one or both hind 
legs which disappears more or less by exercise and returns after the 
animal has stood in the stable for some time. The swelling may 
sometimes extend to the sheath and belly. The fore legs are rarely 
affected. 

Treatment. — Laxative diet. Regular exercise. Hand rub and 
bandage the legs immediately after the animal returns from work. 
Tonics. 

Diseases of the Lymphatic System. 

429. Acute lymphangitis (fig. 48). — An acute inflammation of 
the lymphatics of one or more limbs, usually a hind one, seldom a 
fore one. 

Causes. — High feeding and irregular exercise. The disease seldom 
occurs in animals that are regularly worked. It is usually seen in 
those that, in the midst of hard work, are kept idle in the stable for 
two or three days on the same ration they had while working. 

Symptoms. — Loss of appetite, great thirst, shivering, labored 
breathing, rapid pulse, and high temperature (104°-106°). The 
animal dislikes to move and if forced to do so, it shows great lameness 
in one hind limb, which at each step is carried outward well away 
from the opposite leg. The inside of the thigh of the affected limb 
is swollen, hot, and exceedingly painful to the touch. If not re- 
lieved, the swelling gradually increases until the limb becomes two 
or three times its natural thickness. There is usually constipation, 
and the urine is scanty and high-colored. 

133 



L34 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 




Fig. 48.— Acute lymphangitis. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 135 

Treatment. — Give 1£ pints of linseed oil at once. Add 1 ounce of 
potassium nitrate to the drinking water three times a day. Repeat 
the oil in 24 hours if necessary. Shower the swollen leg with cold 
water for 20 minutes three or four times a day and follow each shower 
with a white lotion (half strength) bath or pack. When the pain 
has diminished, give slow walking exercise followed immediately 
by warm baths and gentle hand rubbing. Allow plenty of drinking 
water and feed grass, bran mashes, and other laxative foods. 

Diseases of the Blood and Blood-Producing Organs. 

430. Azoturia. — An acute disease of horses and mules character- 
ized by coffee-colored urine and severe disturbances in the movement 
of the hind limbs. The disease occurs most frequently in highly-fed 
horses in good muscular condition and accustomed to regular work. 
It usually follows a rest of two or three days and appears when 
the animal is again put to work. The condition is rare in poorly 
nourished horses and in horses that are regularly worked and prop- 
erly fed. 

Causes. — Feeding full rations during a short period (two or three 
days) of rest in the stable, the horse being used to regular work. 

Symptoms. — The attack usually comes on suddenly and within 
20 minutes after leaving the stable. Without any visible cause the 
animal, which has been playful and full of life, suddenly becomes 
excited, knuckles in one or both hind fetlocks, and acts as if he had 
been badly injured about the loins, croup, and thighs. The muscles of 
these regions soon become swollen and hard; they tremble and con- 
tract violently, but are not sensitive to pressure. The hind legs are 
stiff and usually advanced, and, in attempting to put weight on 
them, the hind quarters often drop until the hocks touch the ground. 
The breathing is rapid, perspiration is profuse, and the animal is in 
great agony. There is usually constipation. The urine is coffee- 
colored and often retained in the bladder. The muscles of the fore 
limbs and shoulders are sometimes involved, but not often. Some- 
times the symptoms are mild, but if urged on, the animal falls to the 
ground and struggles until it dies in a few days or a week. Mild 
cases which are stopped before they go down usually recover. 

Treatment. — Stop the animal immediately the first symptoms are 
observed. To move him at once to the nearest stable is unwise. 
Immediate and absolute rest is essential to recovery. Even the 
hauling of the patient to the stable should be forbidden, as the 



136 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

struggling and excitement produced by the procedure will surely 
convert even a mild case into a hopeless one. 

Remove the saddle or harness at once; keep the animal standing, 
if possible; if not, provide a good bed. Cover the body with two or 
three blankets and bandage the legs. Heat some oats or common 
salt, which place in a sack and spread over the loins; or, weather 
permitting, saturate blankets in warm water and apply in the same 
way. Give 2 ounces spirits nitrous ether and 4 drams cannabis indica, 
and in one-half hour give a cathartic. If there is retention of the 
urine, empty the bladder three times a day by passing the hand 
into the rectum and applying firm pressure to the bladder. 

If the patient is down, give a good bed and turn animal over every 
two or three hours. Provide plenty of fresh drinking water and feed 
bran mashes, grass, and hay. The animal should not be worked for 
four to six weeks after all symptoms have disappeared ; 

Prevention. — Exercise all animals daily. When this is impossible, 
reduce the grain ration one-half and feed bran mashes or grass. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 

431. Congestion of the brain. — An accumulation of blood in 
the vessels of the brain. 

Causes. — Diseases of the heart, overexertion, excitement, extreme 
heat, pressure on the jugular veins (a tight collar), or compression of 
the lungs due to bloating of the stomach or intestines. 

Symptoms. — In mild cases the animal is restless and excited, the 
eyes are bright and the pupils dilated. The cranium feels abnor- 
mally hot and the mucous membranes of the head are injected. 

Other cases are characterized by depression. The animal may 
stop very suddenly and shake his head or stand quietly braced on 
his legs, then stagger, make a plunge, and fall. The eyes are staring, 
the breathing is hurried and snoring, and the nostrils are widely 
dilated. This may be followed by coma (stupor), violent convul- 
sive movements, and death. Generally, however, the animal gains 
relief in a short time, but may remain weak and giddy for several 
days. 

Treatment. — Prompt removal of too tight a collar or other 
mechanical obstruction to the circulation will give immediate 
relief. If the animal is partially or totally unconscious, apply cord 
water or ice packs to the head. When able to swallow, give 1^ to 2 
pints of raw linseed oil. Put the animal in a quiet, well-ventilated 
stall and feed a laxative diet. If the disease is caused by bloating, 
treat as directed in paragraph 414. 

432. Concussion of the brain. — A bruising of the brain, the 
result of injury to any part of the head. 

Causes. — Concussion of the brain is generally caused by an animal 
falling over backward and striking his poll, or by kicks, blows, or 
collisions. 

Symptoms. — Giddiness, stupor, unconsciousness, or loss of muscu- 
lar power, appearing as a rule immediately after the animal has been 
injured. In other cases, some minutes elapse before their appear- 
ance. The animal may recover quickly or not for hours. Death 
may occur on the spot or after a few days. 

137 



138 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Treatment. — In mild cases the animal quickly regains its feet and 
no treatment is required. Keep the patient quiet for a few days and 
give a laxative diet. In more severe cases, where there is more or 
less loss of consciousness, cold in the form of water or ice should be 
applied to the head. It may be necessary to continue these appli- 
cations for hours. If the animal is down, the head should be raised 
several inches from the ground and the patient made as comfortable 
as possible. _ If, after an hour of this treatment the animal is able to 
swallow, a stimulant, such as aromatic spirits of ammonia or spirits of 
nitrous ether, should be given and repeated in an hour. When the 
animal regains consciousness it should be assisted to rise, and then 
thoroughly hand-rubbed all over. 

The after treatment consists in keeping the animal quiet, giving 
laxative food, and adding one-half ounce of potassium nitrate to the 
drinking water twice a day. 

If there is a wound on the head it must be treated as directed 
under treatment of wounds. 

433. Sunstroke and heatstroke. — Disturbances of the nervous 
system due to exposure to heat. 

Causes. — Exposure to the direct rays of the sun or to extreme heat 
from any source. 

Symptoms .—In the early stages the animal appears dull and 
depressed . If at work it requires urging. The gait is uncertain and 
stumbling, breathing is difficult and snoring, and the expression of 
the face is anxious. The nostrils are dilated and the mucous mem- 
brane lining the nasal cavities is at first red and congested, but 
later becomes pale and often bluish. The temperature may be as 
high as 108° or over. Later on there is violent trembling and the 
animal may fall and die in convulsions, or it may lie unconscious for 
several hours or days, finally recovering or dying. 

Treatment. — If possible, the animal should be placed in a cool, 
shady spot or in water, and cold water poured over the body, the 
head and the neck. If practicable, ice packs should be applied to 
the head. Give rectal injections of cold water and rub the body 
vigorously and often. 

When the animal is able to swallow, a good stimulant, such as 
aromatic spirits of ammonia or spirits of nitrous ether in 2-ounce 
doses, well diluted, should be given and repeated in an hour. In 
the cool of the evening or early morning the animal may be moved, 
if necessary, but should be kept in a cool place during the heat of the 
day until recovery is perfect. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 139 

434. Spasm of the diaphragm (thumps). — A spasmodic con- 
traction of the muscles of the diaphragm. 

Causes. — Diseases of the digestive organs and over exertion. 

Symptoms. — A convulsive jerking of the body, most marked in 
the left flank, and frequently accompanied by a loud thumping 
noise. Trembling, restlessness, distress, and yawning are seen in 
some cases. 

Treatment.— Place the animal in a quiet place where there is 
plenty of fresh air, but free from drafts. Give stimulants and anti- 
spasmodics such as aromatic spirits of ammonia, 1% ounces, and 
cannabis indica, 2 to 4 drams in a pint of water. Repeat in one 
hour if necessary. When the disease is caused by digestive disturb- 
ances, treat as prescribed in chapter on diseases of the digestive 
system. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
DISEASES OF THE EYE. 

435. Conjunctivitis. — An inflammation of the conjunctiva. 

Causes. — Foreign bodies in the eye such as dust, insects, chaff, 
sand, hair, etc., and injuries from whips, branches, and stubbles. 
Also irritating gases, glare of the sun, microbes, and infectious 



Symptoms. — The discharge of tears, redness of the conjunctiva, 
and the closure more or less complete of the eyelids are the first 
and most marlted symptoms. Later the lids become swollen and 
completely closed, or the haw partially covers the cornea. The 
discharge becomes thicker and mats the eyelashes together, or 
holds the eyelids closed. Unless the cornea has been directly 
injured it usually remains clear. Mild cases usually recover in a 
week or 10 days. 

Treatment. — the first step is to remove the cause. Foreign 
bodies may be removed by washing out the eye with clean, warm 
water, or by the careful use of a tightly rolled swab of cotton or 
gauze. This failing, the forceps may be used. Place the animal 
in the shade or in a dark stall and cover the eye with a clean cloth 
on the inside of which a piece of absorbent cotton covered with 
gauze has been sewed. Keep the cotton wet with a saturated 
solution of boric acid. Twice a day a few drops of the following 
solution should be placed in the eye: 

Zinc sulphate grains. . 20 

Boric acid dram . . 1 

Water ounces . . 4 

Mix. Use as above directed. 

436. Acute keratitis. — An inflammation of the cornea. 

Causes. — Wounds of the cornea by foreign bodies, particles of 
glass, blows of whips, chaff, etc. 

Symptoms. — The eye is extremely sensitive, and usually kept 
closed. There is a profuse flow of tears, and a disposition to resist 
opening of the lids. When exposed the cornea is seen to be more 
or less clouded and perhaps reddened by the formation of blood 

140 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 141 

vessels proceeding from its sclerotic margin. The cloudiness in- 
creases to a deep white opacity. In severe cases the cornea may- 
become of a bright pink color, and abscesses or ulcers may form. 

Treatment. — Any foreign body adhering to the cornea must be 
removed and the eye washed out with a saturated solution of boric 
acid. The eye is then covered as directed in conjunctivitis and 
treated in the same way. The opacity (cloudiness) remaining after 
the inflammation has subsided may be removed by the applica- 
tion of a few drops of the following solution: 

Silver nitrate grains . . 2 

Water ounce. . 1 

Mix. Place a few drops in the eye once a day. 

437. Recurrent ophthalmia (periodic ophthalmia). — An 
inflammatory condition of the interior of the eye, intimately related 
to certain constitutions, soils, climates, and systems of management, 
showing a strong tendency to recur again and again and usually 
ending in blindness from cataract or other destructive lesions. 

Causes. — A wet, impervious, swampy, or undrained soil. Any 
debilitating disease, overwork, insufficient or indigestible food, 
and local irritants, such as blows on the eye, dust, and other foreign 
bodies. Also infection. 

Symptoms. — In some cases there is high fever, in others this 
may be absent. The attack is sudden, the eyelids are closed, and 
the tears run down the face. The conjunctiva is red and congested, 
and the outer border of the cornea is clouded. In a few days the 
cloudiness extends over the entire cornea, and a grayish yellow 
sediment frequently appears in the anterior chamber just back of 
the cornea. Attacks last from 10 to 15 days, and reappear in from 
30 to 60 days. From five to seven attacks usually result in blindness, 
and then the other eye is likely to suffer a similar attack until both 
are ruined. 

Treatment. — Treat as for conjunctivitis. In addition provide 
good healthful surroundings and give a good tonic, as follows: 

Ounces. 

Iron ■ sulphate 1 

Gentian, powdered 1£ 

Nux vomica \\ 

Mix and make 12 powders. Give a powder twice a day in feed. 



142 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

438. Cataract. — Opacity of the lens or of its capsule. 
Causes.— Usually results from repeated attack or recurrent 

ophthalmia. 

Symptoms. — Blindness, and opacity or cloudiness of the lens. 
The lens turns white and is no longer transparent as in the healthy 
eye. 

Treatment. — No treatment will restore the eye to its normal 
condition. 

439. Wounds of the eyelids. 

Causes. — Kicks, and tears by nails or other sharp objects. 

Treatment. — Clean the part thoroughly, removing all dried blood, 
pus, hair, and dirt, and draw the edges of rhe wound together with a 
fine needle and a piece of silk thread, being careful not to injure 
the eye. When the stitches are all in, touch the edges of the wound 
with tincture of iodine and dust with boric acid or iodoform. Care 
must be taken not to let the iodine enter the eye. When the parts 
are badly swollen, apply a pad of cotton and gauze and keep it 
saturated as prescribed for conjunctivitis (par. 435). Dress the 
wound daily as directed in paragraphs 355 and 359. The animal 
must be cross tied or in some way prevented from injuring the wound. 



CHAPTER XV. 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 

440. Eczema. — An acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the 
skin characterized by lesions of manyforms and the presence of more 
or less itching. In the Philippines it often assumes an aggravated 
form and is improperly called "Dhobie itch." 

m Causes. — External irritants, as the accumulation and decomposi- 
tion of dirt among the hairs; constant dampness of the skin from rain, 
washing or sweating, causing a softening of its outer layers and favor- 
ing the growth of fungi and other vegetable parasites, and exposure 
to the hot rays of the sun, especially when the skin is damp. It may 
appear under the saddle, under the harness, or at any point where 
chafing and sweating occur, and it may accompany digestive dis- 
turbances and other debilitating diseases. 

Symptoms. — The skin is reddened, pimpled, blistered, and some- 
times cracked. The blisters break, their fluid escapes, dries and 
forms scabs and crusts around the roots of the hairs which later fall 
out. These lesions may be limited to certain regions or they may 
cover the whole surface of the body. 

Treatment. — When due to indigestion, give 1^-ounce dose6 of 
sodium bicarbonate twice a day in the drinking water. 

Clip the hair from the diseased parts. When scabs and crusts are 
formed, soften them for 24 hours with creolin \ ounce and olive oil 
10 ounces. Wash off with warm water, soap and brush; then apply 
creolin 1 ounce and olive oil 10 ounces once a day until the skin is 
healthy. 

Regulate the diet and give tonics . Do not use the patients groom- 
ing outfit, blanket, or bridle on other animals until they have been 
disinfected. 

441. Scratches (cracked heels). — An acute inflammation of 
the skin of the legs, usually that of the posterior part of the pastern. 

Causes. — Close, dirty stables; standing in dung, urine, and slush; 
washing and insufficiently drying the legs, and allowing horses with 
wet legs to stand in a draft. 

White legs are said to suffer more than others. This is not because 
they are white, but because it is the white leg that gets the most 
washing. 

143 
106233°— 17 10 



144 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Symptoms. — The skin is hot, painful, and more or less swollen. 
It may crack, and on it little blisters may form, followed by an oily 
fetid exudate. There is usually lameness. 

Treatment. — Rest; bran mashes; grass, etc.; potassium nitrate, 2 
drams in drinking water morning and evening. 

Cleanse the diseased partswith castile soap and water, dry, and 
apply a white lotion pack twice daily; or, the following preparation 
may be used : 

Ounce. 

Tincture iodine 1 

Tincture chloride of iron 1 

Glycerine 1 

Mix. Apply twice a day. 

When the parts become dry, hard, and scabby, oxide of zinc oint- 
ment may be applied once or twice daily. When the parts are moist 
or oily, dry dressings, such as oxide of zinc, boric acid, or iodoform, 
either powdered on loosely or held in place by a piece of cotton and 
a bandage, may be used. 

442. Grease (fig. 49). — A chronic inflammation of the skin of 
the back part of the pastern and fetlock. 

Causes.— The disease usually results from a neglected case of 
scratches. (See Causes, par. 441.) 

Symptoms.— -Skin red, swollen, painful and hot, and later covered 
with blisters which break and discharge a thin, yellowish fluid. 
The hairs may be matted together or they may fall out. In the 
course of a few days the liquid from the blisters decomposes, result- 
ing in the formation of a dirty, doughy, stinking deposit. If not 
properly treated, wartlike growths, varying in size from that of a 
pea to a grape may be formed . This is called the grapy stage, and 
the growths themselves are called grapes. 

The affected leg is more or less swollen, and lameness is usually 
well marked. 

Treatment. — In the first stages the treatment is the same as for 
scratches. (See par. 441.) When grapes appear they must be 
nipped off with the sciasors and their bases burnt with copper sul- 
phate or laizar caustic, after which the treatment is the same as for 
resh wounds. 

443. Urticaria (nettlerash). — A disease characterized by the 
sudden appearance of roundish shallow elevations on the skin. 

Causes. — Sudden changes of weather; unwholesome food; sudden 
changes of food; irritating substances to the skin, such as turpentine, 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



145 




Fig. 49.— Grease. 



146 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

phenol, and the secretions of ants, flies, and other insects. It may 
also occur as a complication of indigestion, and in the course of 
infectious diseases, such as strangles and influenza. 

Symptoms. — Suddenly appearing roundish or oblong lumps or 
swellings, varying in size from that of a pea to that of a walnut, 
hard, flat, or half round, scattered about here and there on the skin. 
These swellings may develop in 5 to 30 minutes and disappear in 
one to two hours to two days. In some cases the swellings may 
occur about the nostrils, causing them to become so thickened as to 
interfere with breathing. 

Treatment. — Give 1J pints Hnsted oil, followed by 1-ounce doses 
sodium bicarbonate in the drinking water morning and evening for 
three days. If suffocation threatens, bathe the nostrils with cold 
water. Feed bran mashes, grass, etc., for two or three days after the 
symptoms disappear. 

444. Stings of bees, wasps, and hornets. 

Treatment. — Bathe the injured parts with white lotion; or a solution 
of carbolic acid, one-half ounce to a quart of water; or -potassium per- 
manganate, one-half teaspoonful to a pint of water; or sodium bicar- 
bonate, a tablespoonful to water 1 pint. Pure, cold water may also 
be used. 

445. Snake bites. 

Symptoms. — Two or four small punctured wounds, the nature 
and number of which vary according to the species of the snake 
making them, that of the rattler showing two small, deep punctures, 
usually one immediately above the other. Around the bite large, 
doughy swellings appear, black blood may ooze from the wound, 
and there are pronounced symptoms of dizziness, weakness, and 
prostration. 

Treatment. — If the bite is on a limb, tie a bandage around the leg 
above the wound, and draw it tight. The wound is then freely 
laid open with a knife and burnt with a pointed hot iron; or packed 
with crystals of potassium permanganate or lunar caustic. Other 
valuable remedies are such as tincture of iodine and tincture of 
■chloride of iron, either of which may be injected deeply into the 
wound. 

Internally, give aromatic spirits of ammonia, spirits of nitrous 
ether, alcohol, or whisky in doses of from 1 to 3 ounces. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 147 

Parasitic Diseases of the Skin. 

446. Lice. — The presence of lice is often an indication of insuffi- 
cient grooming and bad stable management. 

Symptoms. — Intense itching; lose of hair; sometimes eruptions on 
the skin. A careful examination will reveal the parasites (lice). 

Treatment. — Isolate the patient. Wash the entire body with a 
solution of creolin (2 ounces) and water (3 quarts). Repeat the 
washings every six days until three applications have been made. 
When circumstances permit, the animal should be clipped before 
treatment is begun. Burn the hair. 

Disinfect stall, equipment, blankets, and grooming utensils. 

Tobacco tea, made by boiling 6 ounces tobacco stems for twenty 
minutes in 1 gallon of water, is an excellent preparation for the 
destruction of lice. With it, however, only one-half of the body 
should be washed at a time, otherwise the animal may suffer from 
nicotine poisoning. Twenty-four hours should elapse between the 
washings. 

447. Mange (scabies). — A contagious disease of the skin. May 
be transmitted to man. 

Causes. — A very_ small animal parasite, the mange mite, of which 
there are three varieties: 

(a) The burro wing mite, which bores itself into the skin. It is 
usually found about the head and neck, but occasionally also on 
other parts of the body. 

(b) The sucking mite, which gets its nourishment by sucking the 
juices from the skin. Found at the roots of the mane and tail. 

(c) The scale-eating mite, found on the extremities. 

Sympt oms — Violent, unceasing, Intolerable itching of the affected 
parts, the patient rubbing, scratching, and biting continuously. 
The hair falls out and the skin becomes thickened, wrinkled, and 
covered with scab&; or, it may become torn and raw by the never- 
ending rubbing and scratching. 

Treatment. — This must be prompt and energetic. Isolate the 
animal, clip the coat and burn the hair. Wash the diseased parts and 
soften the scabs with warm water, soap, and scrubbing brush, dry, 
and wash daily with creolin, A\ ounces to water, 3 quarts; or apply 
creolin and oil (1-20) twice a day and wash thoroughly every other 
day with warm water and soap. Continue the treatment until the 
parts are healed. Tobacco tea, made as directed in paragraph 446 is 
also a useful remedy in the treatment of mange. 



148 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Disinfectstable, troughs, picketlmes, fences,'equipments, blankets, 
grooming utensils, clothing of attendants, etc. 

448. Ringworm (herpes). — A contagious disease of the skin 
characterized by falling out of the hair in circular isolated patches. 

Causes. — A vegetable parasite. 

Symptoms. — Falling out of the hair in circular patches about the 
size of a 25-cent piece, after which there remains an elevated, scaly 
eruption. The parts usually affected are the head, neck, shoulders, 
back, flank, croup, and sometimes the belly. Itching is not marked. 

Treatment. — Isolate the patient. Cut away the hair from the dis- 
eased area; soften the scaly eruptions with a mixture of creolin 
(one-half ounce) and olive oil (10 ounces) which leave on for two 
days, then wash well with warm water and soap, and remove the 
soft scabs. Follow this with daily applications of tincture of iodine. 
Should the eruptions be numerous, creolin baths may be used. 
From two to three months are often required to bring about the cure. 

Disinfect stall, equipment, and grooming utensils. 

449. Ticks. — Ticks are small animal parasites which live on 
bushes and attach themselves to the skin of animals only for the pur- 
pose of sucking their blood. When filled they drop off and fall to the 
ground . 

Treatment.— They are easily destroyed by the application of oil or 
grease which kills them by stopping up their breathing pores. If 
pulled off by the hand a part of the body sometimes breaks off and 
remains in the skin, often causing sores and abscesses. 

450. Warbles (grubs). — Tumors on the backs of horses produced 
by the undeveloped form of the warble or gadfly. Common in the 
Southwestern States. 

Symptoms. — The parasite lives under the skin of the back, where 
it forms a-n abscess about the size of ^ a hazelnut or larger, and sucks 
nourishment from the surrounding tissues^ 

Treatment.— Make a very small opening in the abscess and squeeze 
out the parasite with the fingers. Treat the remaining wound with 
an antiseptic. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 

451. Acute laminitis (founder). — An acute inflammation of the 
laminar coriurn and its adjoining structures. It usually affects the 
fore feet, sometimes the hind ones in addition, but seldom the hind 
ones alone. 

Causes. — Long-continued fast work on hard roads; prolonged stand- 
ing in the stable, on board ship, or on railroad cars; sudden chilling 
of the body, such as may arise from standing in a draft or from drink- 
ing large quantities of cold water, particularly when the animal is 
heated or exhausted; overfeeding; improper foods, especially foods 
that are musty or mouldy, and sudden changes in diet, as from old 
to new forage. It may also occur as a complication of colic, influenza, 
pneumonia, and may follow the excessive use of severe purgatives. 

Symptoms. — Sudden and intense lameness. When the fore feet 
are affected they are planted far in advance of the body, and the 
hind ones are placed well forward under the belly. The affected 
feet are hot and painful and there is increased pulsation in the 
digital arteries. If forced to move, the feet are raised laboriously, 
the animal groans with pain, and sweat may break out over the 
body. In some instances the animal may lie down on his side with 
legs stretched out, for hours at a time; in other cases he stands con- 
tinuously. 

The pulse is strong and full and often increased to 80 or 90 a 
minute; there is muscular trembling; the respirations are short and 
rapid, and the temperature may rise to 105° or over. 

In less severe cases, the symptoms are less marked. The animal 
moves stiffly, taking short, rapid steps with the fore feet, the hind 
ones being thrust forward to take the greater share of the weight. 

Treatment. — Give 1^ pints linseed oil as a drench, and add 2 to 4 
ounces of potassium nitrate to the drinking water three times a day 
for one or two days. If there is great pain, give 2 to 4 drams cannabis 
indica and repeat if necessary. Remove the shoes and stand the 
animal in a stream or a pond for five or six hours at a time each day, 
or apply cold packs (cracked ice, if obtainable) to the feet and legs 
as high as the knees and keep them wet. Stop all grain and feed bran 

149 



150 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

mashes, grass, or hay. When the animal is not standing in water, 
place him in a well-bedded stall to encourage him to lie down and 
rest his feet, or he may be placed in slings. 

If after two or three days of this treatment no improvement is 
observed, change to hot baths or packs, being sure that they extend 
as high as the knees. 

As soon as the pain has diminished moderate exercise may be 
given and gradually increased until lameness has disappeared. If 
there is no improvement after five or six days of such exercise, apply 
a cantharides blister to the coronet and repeat in two weeks if nec- 
essary. 

452. Bruises of trie sole and frog. 

(Causes. — Stepping on stones or other hard objects. 

'Symptoms. — Sudden and more or less severe lameness. In many 
cases the toe only is placed on the ground. The foot is hot, there is 
marked throbbing in the digital arteries, and the use of the tester 
causes great pain. 

Treatment. — Stand the animal in cold water or apply cold poultices 
to the foot. If, after two or three days of this treatment the foot is 
©till hot and painful, change to poultices of hot flaxseed meal. If 
pus forms, remove the underrun horn and treat as directed for sup- 
purating corns, paragraph 454. 

453. Canker. — A chronic disease of the corium of the frog and 
Bole. 

Causes. — Filth and moisture. It often results from a neglected 
case of thrush and from injuries which expose the soft structures of 
the sole and frog. 

Symptoms. — The frog becomes large and spongy and the diseased 
area is covered with a half-dried, cheesy material, the odor of which 
is disgusting. The disease may spread until the entire frog, bars, 
isole, and even the wall may become involved, all having a spongy 
appearance and bleeding freely. Lameness is usually absent. 

Treatment. — Pare the foot down carefully, remove all underrun 
horn, and clean the exposed parts with creolin, 1 ounce in 20 ounces 
of water. The soft spongy material must then be removed with 
the scissors. Profuse bleeding usually follows, and a pressure dress- 
ing of cotton and oakum must be applied to check it. This dressing 
is left in place for two or three hours, after which it must be removed 
and the foot wiped dry with cotton. The diseased area is then thor- 
oughly powdered over with the three sulphates and a pressure dress- 
ing applied. Repeat this dressing daily until a new growth of horn 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 151 

is formed. The horse may now be shod. Pack the foot with oakum 
and tar and cover with a leather sole, which ia held in place by the 
shoe. 

Should it be desirable to change the dressing on the shod foot, a 
more convenient appliance to keep them in place is made in the 
following manner: Cut a piece of zinc to cover about two-thirds of 
the sole and frog, the outer edge of the piece fitting under the shoe; 
cut another piece to cover the remaining third and wide enough to 
lap over the first piece, the lap to run parallel with the cleft of the 
frog; then cut a strip about one inch wide to act as a keeper; the 
ends of this strip are passed under the shoe, the strip passing across 
the foot from quarter to quarter. 

Other recommendable remedies in the treatment of canker are as 
follows: 

A. 

Formalin ounces. . ^ 

Alcohol do 9j 

Apply once daily until parts become hard. 

B. 

Bichloride of mercury drams. . 2 

50 per cent alcohol ounces. . 5 

Apply gently with a soft cotton swab. When dry apply a pressure 
dressing. 

454. Corns. — A corn is a bruise to the sensitive sole between 
the wall and the bar. Corns occur usually in the fore feet, where 
they are found more often in the inner than in the outer heel. They 
are seldom found in the hind feet. 

Corns may be dry or suppurating. 

A dry corn is one in which the injury is but slight, and where 
nothing but the staining of the horn with blood remains to indicate 
that an injury has existed. 

A suppurating corn is one in which pus has formed. 

Causes. — Fast work on hard roads. Improper shoeing, such as 
lowering one quarter more than the other; leaving the toe too long; 
lowering the wall too much and allowing the sole to rest on the shoe; 
shoeing with shoes that are too short; fitting the shoes too close at the 
heels, and allowing the shoes to remain on so long that the wall 



152 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

overgrows the heels of the shoe and causes the shoe to press on the 
sole. 

Symptoms. — Lameness may or may not be present. When present, 
there is heat and tenderness in the injured quarter. Upon removal 
of the superficial layers of the sole at the seat of the injury, the 
deeper layers will be seen to be of a reddish or purplish color. Should 
suppuration threaten, lameness becomes well marked, the foot is 
quite hot, and the use of the tester causes great pain. If not relieved, 
the pus may break through the tissues immediately above the horn, 
usually at the bulb of the heel. 

Treatment.— Level the foot and correct any faults that may be 
detected. Trim away the bearing surface of the sole and wall 
in such a manner that the shoe can not cause pressure upon 
the diseased parts, and reshoe. If the foot is hot and painful, 
apply cold poultices or stand the patient in cold water until the 
inflammation subsides. This failing, apply warm poultices until 
the horn softens and pus appears; then open well at the bottom; 
remove all horn that is underrun by pus; cleanse the parts thor- 
oughly; apply tincture of iodine; bandage carefully, and place the 
patient in a clean dry stall. Dress the foot daily until lameness and 
suppuration cease, then plug the corn with tar and oakum, and shoe 
with a bar shoe. 

455. Cracks in the wall of the hoof. — Most frequently found 
on the inner side of the front hoofs; on the hind hoofs, usually at the 
toe. According to location they are classified as toe cracks and 
quarter cracks. Cracks which affect only the upper border of the 
hoof are called coronary cracks; those affecting the lower border of the 
hoof are called low cracks; while those extending from one border to 
the other are called complete cracks. 

Causes. — Weak quarters; excessive dryness of the hoof; lack of 
frog pressure; contracted heels; heavy shoes; large nails; and nails 
set too far back. Cracks which start at the bottom are usually due 
to shoeing and are of little importance, while those that start at the 
coronet are usually troublesome. 

Symptoms. — A crack in the wall at the toe or the quarter. The 
cock may be shallow and cause no lameness, or it may extend en- 
tirely through the wall, injuring the sensitive structures within. 

Treatment. — Remove the shoe and soften the horn by foot baths 
or poultices.. This being accomplished, cut away the overlapping 
edges of the crack and thin the horn on each side. A bar shoe is then 
applied, the wall beneath the crack being cut away so that it will not 
come in contact with the shoe. A cantharides blister should then be 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 153 

applied to the coronet above the crack to stimulate a new growth of 
horn. Toe cracks are treated in the same way. 

456. Contracted feet. — An unnatural narrowing of the feet at 
the quarters and heels. Most frequently seen in the front feet. 

Causes. — Lack of frog pressure; lack of exercise; excessive dryness 
of the feet; concaving of the bearing surface of the shoe back to the 
heels; cutting away the bars, and opening the heels with the knife. 

Symptoms. — The foot, instead of being wide at the quarters and 
circular in shape, becomes narrow at the heels, which in very 
severe cases may overlap. The frog atrophies and is often affected 
with thrush. Lameness may be present as a result of the pinching 
of the sensitive structures by the walls of the hoof. 

Treatment. — Frog pressure is essential. This may be obtained 
by the use of a bar shoe, with leather pad, tar, and oakum, or by 
letting the animal run barefoot for several months on soft ground. 
Faults in shoeing must be corrected. If the foot is hard and dry it 
must be softened by soaking or poulticing. 

457. Dry feet.— A troublesome condition occurring most fre- 
quently in dry weather. 

Causes. — Lack of exercise; lack of frog pressure; dry weather; 
and rasping away the periople. 

Symptoms. — A hard, dry, and inelastic condition of the horn. 
This increases concussion and frequently causes inflammation of the 
foot corium and produces lameness. 

Treatment. — Soften the feet by poultices or by foot baths and 
then apply an oily covering to the wall surface; or, pack the cavity 
between the branches of the shoe with wet clay two or three times a 
week. This is preferable to soaking in water as it supplies moisture 
to the foot and does not macerate the periople. Work the animal on 
soft ground whenever possible. Oils and ointments do not soften 
the hoof. They are only useful to prevent drying out after the foot 
has been moistened. 

458. Navicular disease. — A chronic inflammation at the point 
where the tendon of the deep digital flexor passes over the navicular 
bone. The disease is confined almost exclusively to the front feet 
and to light horses and mules used for fast work. 

Causes. — Concussion; violent strains thrown upon the deep flexor 
tendon; improper preparation of the foot in shoeing — i. e., leaving the 
toe too long or excessive lowering of the heels. 

Symptoms. — In the early stages there is little to indicate the nature 
of the disease. There is lameness which may be slight at first, but 
which gradually increases in severity. When resting the animal 



154 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

points the toe, and if lame in both feet the limbs are advanced and 
the feet rested alternately. In traveling the affected leg takes a 
short step and the toe strikes the ground before the heel comes down. 
In some cases the lameness may disappear for a day or two, but only 
to return with greater severity than ever. At times there is in- 
creased sensitiveness of the foot, and pressure over the navicular 
area with the tester causes great pain. Bar shoes greatly increase 
the lameness. As time goes on the frog atrophies, the heels contract, 
and the wall at the heel becomes higher than normal. 

Treatment. — The disease is incurable and only relief can be given. 
In the early stages reduce the inflammation with cold baths or cold 
packs. The toe is then carefully shortened and a shoe with a rolled 
toe and thickened heels applied. The foot should be softened 
two or three times a week by means of foot baths or poultices and a 
light coating of linseed oil or cosmoline applied. 

When possible the animal should be allowed to run barefoot on 
soft ground for several months. 

459. Punctured wounds of the frog and sole — Pricks in 
shoeing-. 

Causes. — Punctures of the frog and sole are caused by the animal 
stepping on nails, pieces of glass, sharp sticks, and other pointed 
objects. 

Pricks in shoeing may be direct or indirect. 

In direct pricking the nail is driven directly into the sensitive 
structures, causing immediate lameness. 

In indirect pricking the nail is not driven into the sensitive tissues, 
but so close that it crowds the inner layer of the horn in against them. 
In such cases lameness may not appear for several days. 

Symptoms. — Lameness more or less severe. The foot is hot; there 
is more or less throbbing in the digital arteries, and pressure with the 
tester over the injured spot causes pain. If the animal goes lame 
immediately after having been shod, pricking is to be suspected. 
Clean the foot thoroughly, remove the nails one at a time and ex- 
amine each nail carefully for moisture, blood, or pus. Test each nail 
hole with the tester or pincers; when the injured spot is pressed, the 
horse will flinch. If the nails are found to have produced no injury 
examine the frog and the rest of the sole in the same manner for nails 
or other sharp objects that may have been picked up in the road or 
elsewhere. 

Treatment. — Whether old or recent, whether caused by pricking 
•or by a nail or other sharp object, the treatment is the same. Trim 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 155 

the horn carefully from about the wound, remove the offending object 
if present, and establish drainage. Clean the wound thoroughly 
with a strong antiseptic solution; dry it well with clean cotton and 
apply tincture of iodine. The foot is then well bandaged and the 
animal placed in a clean, dry stall. Repeat the dressings twice 
daily until pus formation and lameness cease. The wound is then 
packed with tar and oakum and the horse shod as directed in par- 
agraph 453. 

460. Quittor. — A chronic inflammation of the cartilages of the 
foot and their surrounding structures, characterized by the presence 
of one or more small openings (fistulas) from which there is a continu- 
ous discharge of pus. 

Causes.— Treads on the coronet, suppurating corns, and bruised 
and punctured wounds of the sole. 

Symptoms.— Heat, swelling, and tenderness in the region of the 
coronet and heel, usually the inner one. The inflammation may 
subside, but usually an abscess forms and discharges a bloody pus, 
after which the swelling may disappear, leaving one or more small 
canals (fistulas, sinuses) 1 or 2 inches in depth. There is usually 
lameness. 

Treatment. — Rest. If due to a nail wound, a tread or a suppurating 
corn, treat accordingly. The canals may be injected twice daily 
with tincture of iodine and a pack of a 1 to 1,000 solution of bichloride of 
mercury applied. If this does not affect a cure, an operation will be 
necessary. 

461. Seedy toe. — A mealy condition of the horn of the wall, 
usually in the region of the toe. 

Causes.— Usually results from an attack of laminitis. Excessive 
moisture is also said to be a cause. 

Symptoms. — A crumbling and breaking away of the white line 
between the wall and the sole, leading to the formation of a hollow 
wall. By tapping on the wall of the diseased part a hollow sound 
may be heard. 

Treatment. — Scrape out the soft, crumbly horn and clean the 
cavity well; apply tincture of iodine or pure creolin and pack with tar 
and oakum. The foot is then shod with a leather pad and a bar shoe. 
A cantharides blister should be applied to the coronet to stimulate 
the growth of the horn. 

462. Thrush. — A disease of the frog characterized by an offensive 
odor and a softening of the horn. 



156 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

_ Causes. — Muddy roads, picket lines and corrals, and a filthy con- 
dition of the floor of the stables in which the animal is kept. 

Symptoms.— A. stinking discharge from the cleft of the frog. As 
the disease advances the discharge and odor become more marked, 
the cleft deepens, the horn becomes underrun and loosened, and the 
sensitive structures are exposed. Lameness is uaually absent, it 
occurring only in severe cases, where the whole or a large portion of 
the frog is diseased. 

Treatment. — Clean, dry stalls are essential. Pare away all loose 
underrun portions of horn, dry-clean the frog thoroughly with oakum 
and apply tincture of iodine. When the iodine dries, cover the parts 
with pine tar. Or, after the frog has been thoroughly cleaned, pack 
with the three sulphates, or a few drops of pure creolin. If not lame, 
keep the animal at work. 

463. Treads. — Injuries of the coronet and heels. 

Causes. — Stepping with the shoe of one foot upon the coronet or 
heel of another in turning, backing, or going to one side, and some- 
times by a tread from another horse. Cavalry horses and lead and 
swing horses of artillery are often injured by the horses in rear when 
column is brought suddenly to a halt. 

Symptoms. — Laceration or bruising, with heat, pain, and swelling 
in the region of the heels or coronet. 

Treatment. — Remove all portions of loosened horn and treat as 
directed in paragraphs 353 and 357. 



CHAPTER XVII. 
ISOLATION, QUARANTINE, AND DISINFECTION. 

Isolation. 

464. Isolation is a preventative measure wherein an animal 
affected with a contagious disease, or one suspected of such a dis- 
ease, is separated from the healthy animals and placed by itself. 
To be effective, isolation must be complete, otherwise it is useless. 
In summer or in the Tropics, in order to prevent the spreading of 
disease by flies, diseased animals should be removed to a place at 
least 200 or 300 yards from the healthy ones and kept within an 
inclosure having preferably a double fence, the fences to be sepa- 
rated by a space of 10 or 12 feet to avoid all possibility of contact 
with animals which may be on the outside. In winter, the distance 
between the sick and healthy need not be so great. 

Each isolated animal must be provided with a separate feed box y 
water bucket, blanket, and grooming outfit, none of which should 
be removed from. the place of isolation until properly disinfected. 
Only authorized persons should be permitted to enter the place of 
isolation. Attendants should have no duties which bring them in 
contact with other animals. They should wear fatigue clothing, 
and on leaving the place of isolation this clothing should be removed, 
the hands and face washed with soap and water, and the hands and 
shoes disinfected. < The fatigue clothing should not be removed from 
the place of isolation until thoroughly disinfected. 

No animal, carcass, forage, bedding, or manure should be removed 
from the place of isolation without proper authority. As the dung r 
nasal discharges, etc., of an infected animal often contain the germa 
of disease, they, together with all soiled bedding, hay, grain, etc., 
should be piled up within the corral, saturated with crude oil, and 
burned, and disinfectants used freely about the stall. This pro- 
cedure is not only of value in the destruction of infectious material,, 
but also in destroying the breeding places of flies. 

Immediately after an animal has been removed from the stable 
and placed in isolation, his entire equipment, his stall, the watering 
trough, the salt boxes, and everything used upon him, and every- 
thing with which he has been in contact, should be thoroughly 
disinfected. 

157 



158 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

465. Diseases for which animals should be isolated: 
Eczema (Dhobie itch). 

Epizootic lymphangitis. 

Glanders. 

Influenza. 

Lice. 

Mange. 

Nasal catarrh of whatever nature. 

Pneumonia. 

Ringworm. 

Strangles. 

Surra. 

Quarantine. 

466. By quarantine is meant the period during which animals 
suffering from contagious disease are kept away from those known 
to be healthy. It also means the detention and isolation of animals 
-coming from places infected, or suspected of being infected, with 
-contagious disease. There is no fixed period of quarantine for all 
cases, but the length of this period varies according to the nature of 
the disease against which the quarantine is established. As a general 
rule it should be at least ten days or two weeks in length. Animals, 
particularly remounts, should be quarantined upon their arrival at 
camp or garrison to determine whether or not they have been ex- 
posed to diseases of contagious or infectious nature. 

To be of value quarantine must be perfect, otherwise it is as useless 
as none at all. Not only should the diseased animals themselves be 
•quarantined against, but also all animals, stables, equipment, etc., 
which may have been exposed to the infection. 

During the period of quarantine all animals showing symptoms of 
contagious disease should be segregated immediately in different 
isolated places, and their stalls, together with their feeding, watering, 
and grooming utensils, thoroughly disinfected. The remaining ani- 
mals must then be held for another period of 10 days or 2 weeks. 

Quarantine pens or corrals should be at least 200 or 300 yards from 
all susceptible animals. 

For quarantinable diseases see paragraph 465. 

Disinfection. 

467. By this term is meant the destruction of organisms causing 
contagious and infectious diseases. This may be accomplished by 
means of sunlight and heat or by the use of chemical agents. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 159 

468. Sunlight. — Germs of many diseases will live almost in- 
definitely in dark, damp places, while in the sunlight they exist 
only for a short time. 

469. Heat.— (a) For the destruction of material contaminated 
with germs of disease, such as manure, nasal discharges, soiled forage 
and bedding, and worthless articles of equipment, "there is nothing 
more convenient and more certain than the application of fire. When 
burning of such material is conducted in the open air, great care 
must be taken that the burning is complete and that no small un- 
burned particles remain to be scattered about by the action of the 
wind. To insure thoroughness in burning, saturate the material to 
be burned with crude oil or kerosene. 

_ (6) Boiling for 20 minutes is an effective method for the destruc- 
tion of disease-producing germs. Its use, however, is limited to 
articles of a metallic or earthen nature and to clothing, etc., of linen 
or cotton. Articles of wool (blankets) or leather must not be boiled. 

470. Chemical agents. — The chemical agents most frequently 
used in disinfection are: 

To 1 gallon of water- 
Bichloride of mercury drams . . 2 

Carbolic acid ounces. . 6J 

Chloride of lime (fresh) do 6 

Chloro naptholeum do 4 

Creolin. do 4 

Formalin do 6 

Kreso do 4 

Liquor cresolis do 5 

471. Disinfection of stables. — Entire stables or individual 
stalls are disinfected after the removal Of the occupants and the 
isolation of the sick. The method of procedure is as follows: 

Feed boxes and mangers should be thoroughly cleaned and the 
bedding and manure removed from the stalls and piled up out- 
side. The walls, floors, and partitions should then be scrapod 
and swept clean and the sweepings placed on the pile with the 
bedding and burned. If the floor be of earth, three or four inches 
of the surface should be dug up and removed to some place inacces- 
sible to live stock and saturated with a good disinfectant. The 
removed earth should be replaced with clean, fresh, uncontaminated 
clay. Should any of the woodwork about the stable have become 

106233°— 17 11 



160 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

softened or decayed it should be removed, burned, and replaced 
with new material. 

The stable having been carefully cleaned, the disinfectant, 
preferably creolin, kreso, or bichloride of mercury, is then applied 
thoroughly to all surfaces, such as walls, partitions, mangers, and 
floors (if of concrete or brick). This may be accomplished by the 
use of brooms or brushes, but the best and most efficient method is 
by means of a strong spray pump with which the disinfecting solution 
can be forced into all cracks and crevices. The walls and posts 
should be disinfected to a height of at least 12 feet from the floor. 
Feed boxes, and mangers should receive particular attention. The 
corral should be cleaned thoroughly, and the watering trough, fences, 
picket lines, and salt boxes thoroughly disinfected. The process 
of disinfection having been completed, the stable or stall is allowed 
to dry for three or four days before again being used. When the 
entire stable has been disinfected, it is well to open all doors and 
windows for the admission of air and light. 

When disinfection follows an outbreak of mange the stable should 
not be reoccupied within 8 or 10 days. A second disinfection 6 or 8 
days after the first is also advisable. In this case unslacked lime 
may be added to the disinfecting solution. In the Tropics, infected 
stables constructed of bamboo and other cheap material should be 
burned. 

472. Disinfection of leather. — Bridles, halters, and harnesses 
should be taken apart, and the stirrups, coat straps, etc., removed 
from the saddle. All parts are then given a thorough scrubbing with 
warm water, soap, and a stiff brush, after which they are allowed 
to dry. > They should then be scrubbed with a solution of creolin, 
kreso, liquor cresolis, or carbolic acid, and dried. The drying in 
both cases should take place in the shade. 

473. Disinfection of blankets and grooming utensils. — Such 
articles are best disinfected by placing them for 12 hours in a bath 
of creolin, kreso, bichloride of mercury, liquor cresolis, or carbolic 
acid. 

474. Disinfection of men's clothing.— Articles of wool should 
be soaked for 12 hours as directed in paragraph 473. Articles of 
linen or cotton should be boiled or soaked in a disinfectant. 

475. Disinfection of bits, curbchains, and other like articles 
of metal. — Boil or scrub well with any of the disinfectants except 
bichloride of mercury, which will corrode them. 



MANUAL FOE STABLE SERGEANTS. 161 

476. Disinfection of stable implements. — Forks, brooms, 
buckets, etc., should be freed from dirt, scrubbed with soap and 
water,, and washed with a disinfectant. 

477. Disinfection of watering- troughs, feed boxes, etc. — 
Scrub with boiling water and soap, then wash thoroughly with a 
disinfectant. 

478. Disinfection of railroad cars. — Cars are disinfected in the 
same manner as stables. 

Destruction of Animals. 

479. Destruction of animals is best accomplished by shooting 
with a pistol. An imaginary line is drawn from the base of the 
right ear to the left eye and vice versa. The bullet should enter 
at the point where these two lines cross, the pistol being held close 
to the head. 

Disposal op Carcasses. 

480. By burning. — Dig a trench in the ground inthe shape of a 
cross (+), each trench being 7 feet long, 15 inches wide, and 18 
inches deep at the point where the two meet, becoming shallower at 
each end . The earth is thrown up in the angles formed by the trench, 
and on, this are placed two stout pieces of iron (a piece of railroad 
rail if obtainable) or wooden rails. A layer of stout wood is placed 
on the rails, and on this the carcass is placed. Wood is then piled 
over the carcass and the pile lighted with paper, straw, shavings, etc. 
Five gallons of crude oil or kerosene poured over the carcass will 
hasten the burning. The carcass is usually consumed in five or six 
hours. Blood, manure, nasal discharges, etc., which may be scat- 
tered about on the ground, should be scraped up with the earth and 
thrown into the fire. 

481. By burying. — When burning is impracticable, carcasses 
should be buried. The grave should be at least 8 feet deep and the 
carcass shouldbe well covered with unslacked lime, after which the 
grave is filled in and the earth well packed. Earth which has been 
soiled by blood, manure, nasal discharges, etc., should be scraped 
up and thrown into the bottom of the grave. 

Wagons, etc., in which animals dead of contagious disease are 
hauled should be cleaned and disinfected. 



162 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Flies. 

482. Flies. — In addition to their importance on account of the 
worry produced by their bites and the loss of blood suffered by their 
victims, flies are of great importance as carriers of disease. For these 
reasons their destruction as well as the destruction of the material in 
which they breed must receive constant and vigilant attention. 

483. Breeding places of flies. — Flies breed principally in 
horse manure, damp straw or hay, fallen leaves, dead grass, under- 
brush, decaying animal and vegetable matter, refuse and filth of 
every kind, and in earth soaked with horse urine. 

484. Control of flies in garrison. — During fly season, or in the 
Tropics, the stables must be kept absolutely clean and dry. Manure, 
soiled bedding, and refuse about the feed boxes and mangers should 
be removed daily and hauled to the dump. Food boxes and man- 
gers should be swept or brushed out daily, and once a week the feed 
boxes and a portion of the woodwork immediately surrounding them 
should be well scraped and washed clean with boiling water. The 
doors and windows should be kept open at all times, except during 
storms, and bales of hay or straw, and empty sacks or sacks filled 
with grain that may have become wet by rain blowing through 
open windows or doors should be scattered about and allowed to dry. 

The corrals and picket lines should be swept daily , # and special 
attention must be paid to the ground beneath the watering trough to 
see that it is kept clean and dry . i If the floor of the picket line should 
be of soft earth, it should be sprinkled once a week with crude oil. 

Horse covers and saddle blankets that have been used and which 
for any reason are to be stored away in the stable should be thor- 
oughly dried before storing. 

485. Fly traps and fly poison. — These art often useful in the 
destruction of flies, particularly in and about stables. An excellent 
fly poison is made as follows: 

Formalin ounce. . 1 

Sugar or sirup do 1 

Water pint. . 1 

Mix. Put in shallow vessels and place where the flies are the 
thickest. 

486. Control of flies in camp. — When animals are to remain in 
camp for more than a few days, the picket lines and the ground 
for 50 yards or more on the sides and ends should be thoroughly 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 163 

policed. Underbrush, tall grass, etc., should be cut and burned 
or removed to an out-of-the-way place several hundred yards from 
the camp. The floor of the picket line and the ground for several 
feet on either side should be raked and swept daily, and the manure, 
straw, and other sweepings burned or^ hauled away to the camp 
dump. Once a week the floor of the picket line should be burned 
with crude oil and strawat the rate of 10 gallons of crude oil and 75 
pounds of straw to each line. 

The accumulation of waste and filth from any source must not be 
permitted, and bales of hay or straw and empty sacks and sacks of 
grain that may have become wet should be scattered about in the 
sun to dry. Loose straw or hay should be treated in the same way. 

487. Protection of animals against bites of flies. — External 
applications for this purpose are not satisfactory, although many 
have been tried. Sick horses and horses in isolation may be kept 
in screened stalls or covered with gunny sacking or other light 
material. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 

488. Contagious and infectious diseases are diseases capable 
of being transmitted from one animal to another. They are caused 
by germs, fungi, and low forms of animal life. 

Animals affected, or suspected of being affected, with a contagious 
disease should be isolated at once in a well-ventilated place and all 
places to which they have had access thoroughly disinfected. Par- 
ticular attention should be given to all drinking and feeding utensils, 
especially those which are to be used by other animals. A vet- 
erinarian should be notified at once in all cases where such a disease 
is suspected. 

489. Contagious stomatitis (figs. 50, 51). — A mild contagious 
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth, involving 
sometimes the mucous membrane of the nose and the skin of the 
lips. 

Cause. — The cause is unknown. The disease is spread by the 
saliva of the sick which contaminates the food and water of other 
animals. It is also spread by the hands of attendants, grooming 
utensils, etc. 

Symptoms. — The animal takes its food slowly and chews with 
great care, and there is always more or less slobbering, the saliva 
hanging from the mouth in long threads. The animal holds the 
mouth shut. If opened, a quantity of saliva spills out. The 
mucous membrane of the mouth is reddened, and the lips and 
cheeks are often swollen and tender. On the mucous membrane 
of the lips, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, and beneath the tongue 
appear hard, red elevations about the size of a pea, from which, 
in a few days, little blisters are formed. Sometimes small abscesses 
are formed, which break and leave behind small round ulcers. 
These ulcers and blisters usually heal in five or six days, leaving 
behind a white scar. The lump is usually slightly elevated. 

The disease usually ends in recovery in about two weeks. 

Treatment. — Feed soft food and allow plenty of fresh drinking 
water. Wash out the mouth three times a day with creolin 4 drams, 
water 1 pint; or, potassium permanganate 30 grains to 1 quart of water. 

164 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



165 



490. Strangles (distemper). — An acute contagious and infec- 
tious disease of horses and. mules, occurring most commonly in 
animals from 6 months to 5 years of age. 

Cause. —A germ, the streptococcus equi. 




Fig. 50.— Contagious stomatitis. (By courtesy of Dr. S. Stewart.) 

Symptoms. — The disease begins with a high fever, ranging from 
104° to 106°; and an abundant discharge from the nose which is at 
first watery, but later becomes much thicker. The submaxillary 
glands (the glands below the lower jaw) swell, become hot and 



166 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

painful, and in them abscesses may form. There is soreness of the 
throat, cough, loss of appetite, depression, and occasionally great 
muscular weakness. There may be some swelling of the limbs and 
occasionally swellings are found elsewhere on the body. The 
infection may spread along the lymph channels and cause blood 
poisoning and death. 




Fig. 51.— Contagious stomatitis. (By courtesy of Dr. S. Stewart.) 

Treatment.— Clothe the body according to the season; avoid drafts; 
apply stimulating liniments, hot baths, or poultices to the enlarged 
glands three times a day, and, as soon as a soft area is noticed, open 
and flush twice daily with an antiseptic solution. (See Abscess, 
par. 372.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 167 

Feed soft foods, such as grass, bran mashes, steamed oats. Supply 
an abundance of fresh drinking water to which has been added one- 
half ounce of potassium nitrate two or three times a day. During 
convalescence give moderate exercise, tonics, and plenty of grain. 

491. Influenza (pinkeye, catarrhal fever). — An acute conta- 
gious and infectious disease affecting the respiratory and digestive mu- 
cous membranes, the eyes, and the nervous and circulatory systems. 

Cause. — An organism the nature of which little is known. 

Symptoms. — The first symptoms noticed are loss of appetite, de- 
pression, and great weakness. The animal staggers -when walking, 
the head is held low, and the temperature rises to 105° or 107°. The 
eyes are often intensely inflamed and the visible mucous membranes 
become yellowish in color. There is often a discharge from the 
nostrils, which may be watery at first, but later becomes thicker and 
often tinged with yellow. Respiration is quickened, and when the 
digestive organs are affected colic may occur. At first there is con- 
stipation and the dung is coated with a thin layer of mucus. Later, 
diarrhea may set in and the legs may become swollen, hot, and 
sensitive to the touch. During the course of the disease pneumonia 
sometimes develops. 

Treatment. — Absolute rest. Clothe the body according to the 
season; provide plenty of fresh drinking water and give soft food, 
except when diarrhea exists, in which case give hay, dry bran, oat- 
meal, or crushed oats. Colic may be relieved by giving cannabis 
indica, fluid extract of belladonna, or the camphor and carbolic acid 
preparation as prescribed in paragraph 414. Give one-half ounce 
doses of potassium nitrate in drinking water two or three times daily. 
Quinine sulphate may be given twice a day in 1-dram doses. If great 
weakness is in evidence, combine the quinine with 1 dram fluid extract 
ofnux vomica and give twice daily. Or, give a Icohol or spirits of nitrous 
ether in 2 to 4 ounce doses three times daily in the drinking water. 

The eyes, if involved, should be treated as directed in paragraph 
435. Should pneumonia develop, treat as directed in paragraph 
422. Animals should not be worked for at least two weeks after the 
temperature has become normal. 

During an outbreak of influenza in a stable early morning tem- 
peratures should be taken daily. Any animal showing increase of 
temperature should be isolated. 

492. Contagious pneumonia (pleuropneumonia, infectious 
pneumonia). — An acute contagious and infectious disease affecting 
the lungs and pleurae. Although rather slow in spreading from animal 
to animal, it often causes great losses when once introduced into a stable. 



168 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Cause. — Not yet identified. 

Symptoms and treatment. — The same as for pneumonia. (See 
par. 422.) 

During an outbreak of contagious pneumonia in a stable early 
morning temperatures should be taken daily. Any animal showing 
increase of temperature should be isolated. 

493. Glanders. — A contagious and infectious disease, which may 
be transmitted to man. It may be acute or chronic. The external 
form of the disease is called farcy. 

Cause. — The bacillus of glanders. 

494. Acute glanders (fig. 52). — This form is most common in 
the mule, though it may occur in horses while in transit and in 
tropical climates. 

Symptoms. — Chill; temperature, 105° to 107°; discharge from the 
nose, which maybe bloody; pimples and ulcers on the mucous mem- 
brane of the nostrils, which sometimes perforate the nasal septum* 
respirations quickened and often difficult; rapid emaciation; and 
great weakness. Later, diarrhea may occur. The lymph glands of 
the lower jaw become enlarged and nodules and ulcers may form in 
the skin. The course of this form is rapid and death takes place in 
from 3 to 14 days. 

Treatment. — None. (See par. 496.) 

495. Chronic glanders. — This is the form most frequently 
seen in the horse in temperate climates. 

Symptoms. — The first symptom noticed is usually a discharge 
from one or both nostrils, which is whitish in color and which may 
later become tinged with blood. Pimples form on the mucous mem- 
brane of the nostrils and soon change to ulcers, which are more or less 
deep and have thickened and ragged edges. These ulcers frequently 
cause small hemorrhages and the nasal discharge then becomes 
mixed with blood. _ The submaxillary lymph glands become slightly 
thickened and sensitive, but later they become knotlike and pain- less. 
The animal becomes weak, emaciated, and easily fatigued. Cough and 
more or less interference with breathing may be noticed. The tem- 
perature may be slightly elevated and irregular. The progress of the 
disease is slow and the animal may live for years. In some cases 
prominent symptoms never develop during the life of the animal. 

Treatment. — None. (See par. 496.) _ 

496. Farcy (skin glanders). — This is most commonly seen as a 
symptom of acute glanders. 

Symptoms. — Nodules, the size of a pea to that of a walnut, appear, 
as a rule, on the shoulders, neck, chest, and limbs. The superficial 




Fig. 52.— Glanders. 

Middle region of nasal septum, left side, showing ulcers. (From "Diseases 
of the Horse," Department of Agriculture.) 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



169 



lymphatics become enlarged and appear as knotted cords, and in 
them ulcers discharging a sticky, bloody fluid are formed. The 
ulcers heal but slowly, if at all, leaving behind small jagged scars. 
Treatment. — None. The disease is incurable. The affected 
animal should be destroyed at once and burned and the stables 
and all equipment thoroughly disinfected. All exposed animals 
in the organization and post should be quarantined and repeatedly 




Fig. 53.— Chronic epizootic lymphangitis (tropical). 

tested with one or more of the various tests until all are proven to be 

free from the disease. All animals which react to the test should be 

destroyed. These tests can be carried out only by a veterinarian. 

497. Epizootic lymphangitis (figs. 53, 54).— A chronic, conta- 



gious disease which spreads slowly through the lymphatic vessels and 
lymphatic glands. It is somewhat similar to farcy (skin glanders), 
except that in the latter there may be rise of temperature and sudden 
loss of flesh and vigor which are not seen in epizootic lymphangitis. 



170 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 




Fig. 54.— Chroiuc epizootic lymphangitis ^tropical). 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 171 

Cause. — A fungus. 

Symptoms. — Nodules, either singly or in clusters, or in the form of 
a string of beads, usually first appear on the limbs, but later on any 
part of the body. From the nodules abscesses develop, which break 
and discharge a thick, yellow pus. When the abscesses rupture, 
ulcers are formed, which heal very slowly. In cases of long standing 
the ulcers often run together and form large ulcerous surfaces. The 
infected limbs become swollen, and the patient becomes weak and 
poor in flesh. 

Treatment. — Open the abscesses, clean them out thoroughly, and 
pack with crystals of potassium permanganate or sulphate of copper. 
Or, the abscesses may be swabbed out and the ulcers painted once 
daily with the following caustic solution: 

Bichloride of mercury drams. . 2 

Salicylic acid ounces . . 1 

Alcohol do 4 

Mix. Apply with a small cotton swab. When pus ceases, apply 
ordinary antiseptics. 

As the disease is frequently spread by flies, the ulcers should be 
covered or treated as directed in paragraph 360. The manure, soiled 
bedding, and all cast-off dressings and bandages should be burned. 
AH instruments, etc., used about the patient must be thoroughly 
disinfected. 

498. Tetanus (lockjaw) (fig. 55) ; — An infectious disease caused 
by a germ which is found in the soil, in manure, and in manured 
ground (gardens, around stables). The germ enters the body through 
wounds, and animals sustaining deep punctured wounds which 
become soiled with earth or manure are likely to develop the disease. 
Punctured wounds of the feet are especially dangerous. The germ 
does not readily grow in large open wounds, because in such wounds 
oxygen (air) is freely admitted. It is more prevalent in hot than in 
cold climates. 

Cause. — The bacillus of tetanus. 

Symptoms.— Usually develop in one or two days. The first symp- 
tom noticed is a slight general muscular stiffness interfering with 
movement, mastication, swallowing, and drinking. Slight muscular 
spasms may also be noticed. In a short time the stiffness increases; 
the head is held extended; the tail is elevated, and the ears are held 
erect. Prehension and mastication become more and more diffi- 
cult or impossible, and food and saliva collect in the mouth and 
decompose. «The muscles become firmly contracted and hard; the 
jaws are set; the nostrils are dilated, and the limbs are greatly 



172 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

stiffened and stand well apart. If forced to move, the legs are car- 
ried like stilts with little or no bending of the joints. There is 
muscular twitching and excitement, both of which are increased 
by any sudden noise, a flash of light, or a slap of the hand. 




Fig. 55.— Tetanus. 



The eye is drawn well into its socket and the haw (membrana 
nictitans) partially covers the eyeball. There may be profuse 
sweating. The temperature is at first normal or slightly elevated. 
Later it may rise to 105° or over. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 173 

In cases which develop quickly death may occur in from one to 
three days^ the average duration of fatal cases being about one week. 
Recovery is seldom complete in less than four or five weeks. The 
mortality is from 80 to 85 per cent. 

Treatment. — If the wound can be found, open it well and treat 
with an antiseptic, preferably tincture of iodine. Place the animal in 
a quiet, darkened stall. Feed gruels or very thin mashes, and keep 
fresh water constantly within easy reach. The vessels in which 
the food and water are given should be supported at a height of 3 or 
4 feet from the floor — this to enable the animal to eat and drink 
without bending the neck. 

Medicines are of little use. Give from 2 to 4 ounces potassium 
bromide in the drinking water twice a day; or |-ounce doses of 
cannabis indica in one pint of warm water may be given as an 
enema and repeated often enough to keep the animal quiet or drowsy. 
Do not attempt to drench or give balls. Slings may be used when 
necessary to keep the animal on its feet. 

Prevention. — The disease may be prevented by thoroughly cleans- 
ing all wounds, expecially punctured wounds of the feet, and 
treating them with antiseptics. 

499. Surra (fig. 56). — A tropical contagious and infectious 
blood disease, transmitted by biting insects, especially flies. 

Cause. — A low form of animal life, the trypanosoma evansi (fig. 57). 

Symptoms. — Dullness, depression, and great weakness. The tem- 
perature rises from 104° to 106°, and remains high for four or five 
days, after which it may return to the normal, only to shoot up 
again in a few days. Later, soft, doughy swellings appear on the 
sheath, belly, and limbs. There is rapid loss of flesh. The mucous 
membranes become pale and frequently show dark red spots (pete- 
chiae), and there may be a watery discharge from the eyes and 
nostrils. The temperature continues to rise and fall, the animal 
becomes more and more emaciated, and, in acute cases, dies in 
about two weeks. The disease is, however, usually chronic, in 
which case the patient may live for one or two months. 

Treatment. — None. The disease is incurable. Tne affected ani- 
mals should be immediately killed and their carcasses burned. 

To prevent the spread of the disease, early morning temperatures 
of all the animals in the post or camp should be taken daily. Any 
animal showing a rise of temperature should be isolated. His tem- 
perature should be taken daily and a veterinarian should examine 
nis blood. The suspected animal should be protected from flies 
either by being placed in a screened building or by being covered 
with sacking or a net. Every effort should be made to destroy flies 



174 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 




Fig. 56.— Surra; characteristic swellings 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



175 



and prevent their breeding. Cattle and earabao may carry the in- 
fection. They should therefore be excluded from the post or camp. 




Fig. 57.— Trypanosoma evansi (the worm-like figures). 

500. Purpura hemorrhagica (purpura, petechial fever) (fig. 
58). — An acute noncontagious disease of horses and mules. It may 

106233°— 17 12 



176 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Occur independently, but usually follows such diseases as strangles, 
pneumonia, and influenza. 

Cause. — Unknown. 

Symptoms. — On the mucous membranes of the nostrils and eyes 
there appear small, dark red spots, varying in size from that of a 
pin's head to a pea. At about the same time swellings appear on 
the head, belly, and legs, which become enormous in size. These 
swellings have' a characteristic abruptly terminating border, giving 




Fig. 58.— Purpura hemorrhagica. 

the appearance of having been tied with a string. The swellings 
of the legs cause stiffness, and the swellings of the head and nostrils 
may become so great as to interfere with breathing. The tempera- 
ture is at first normal, but may become elevated in a few days. 

Treatment.— There is no specific. Tie the head up high. Give 
easily digested food and tonics. If the swellings break open or 
crack, apply antiseptics. If suffocation threatens, bathe nostrils 
with cold water. Tincture of chloride of iron is probably the best 
tonic. It should be given twice a day. 



GLOSSARY. 

Abdomen: The cavity between the thorax and the pelvis. 

Abscess: A collection of pus. 

Absorb: Take in, suck up, take up. 

Absorption : The taking in of fluids or other substances by the skin,, 
mucous surfaces, or absorbent vessels. 

Acute: Having a short, severe course; not chronic. 

Adjust: Put in order, arrange, set to rights. 

Anterior: Situated in front of or in the forward part of. 

Aqueous: Watery; prepared with water. 

Arm: The region between the shoulder and forearm. 

Articular: Pertaining to a joint. 

Ascend: Rise, climb, go up. 

Atrophy: A wasting or diminution in the size of a part. 

Auxiliary: That which affords aid. 

Bacillus: Rod-shaped germ. 

Bacterium (bacteria, plural) : A germ. 

Barrel: The body or trunk. 

Base: The lowest part or foundation of anything. 

Basis: The base or lower part. 

Bog: Soft and spongy. 

Bowel: The intestine. 

Brain: The mass of nervous material within the cranium. 

Buttocks: The protuberances of the rump on either side of the tail. 

Canal: Any tube, narrow passage, or channel. 

Canine: Of or pertaining to, or like that which belongs to a dog. 

Cannon: The structures between the knee (hock in hind leg) and 
the fetlock. 

Capricious: Odd, queer, freakish, uncertain, changeable. 

Cartilage: Gristle. 

Catarrh: Inflammation of a mucous membrane, with a free dis- 
charge. 

Caudal: Pertaining to the tail. 

Cecum (caecum): Blind; blind gut. 

Chestnuts: The horny plates found on the inside of the legs near 
the knee and hock; so called on account of their fanciful resemblance 
to a chestnut. 

Chronic: Long continued ; not acute. 

Clot: A soft mass of coagulated blood or lymph. 

177 



178 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Coagulate: To curdle; thicken; clot. 

Coma: Profound stupor. 

Compress: A pad of any kind, applied so as to make pressure on 
any particular part. 

Concave: Hollow, depressed, hollowed out. 

Concussion: A violent jar or shock. 

Conformation: Structure, form, shape. 

Congestion: An excess of blood in a part. 

Constipation: Infrequent evacuation of the bowel. 

Contagion: The communication of disease by contact, either 
direct or indirect; a contagious disease. 

Contagious: Carried from one person or animal to another; catch - 

Contraction: A shortemng. 

Convalescence : The stage of recovery following an attack of dis- 
ease. 

Convalescent: A patient in the stage of recovery following an 
attack of disease. 

Convex: Bulging, rounding outwardly. 

Coronet: A crown; the crown of the hoof. 

Corpuscles: Small cells which form part of the blood. 

Corrode: Eat away, consume, impair, destroy. 

Corrosive: Destructive to tissue, caustic, eating away. 

Coxa: The hip or hip bone. 

Cranium: The skull or brain pan. 

Croup: That portion of the upper part of the body situated be- 
tween the loins in front and the tail behind. 

Crystalline: Resembling a crystal. 

Dandruff: Scales found upon the skin. 

Debilitating: Weakening. 

Descend: To go down. 

Decomposition: Decay, rot. 

Depraved appetite: A desire for unnatural articles of food. 

Differentiate: To establish a difference between. 

Digestion: The process of converting food into materials fit to 
be absorbed. 

Dissolve: To cause a substance to melt away in a liquid. 

Docile: Easy to manage, gentle. 

Dock: The solid part of the tail; also the parts around the anus. 

Elbow: The bony projection at the upper part of the forearm. 

Excrement: The natural discharges of the body — feces and urine. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 179 

Excretion: The discharge of waste matter from the body, or the 
material so discharged. 

Febrile: Pertaining to fever. 

Feces: The discharges from the bowel. 

Fetid: Giving off a bad odor. 

Fetlock: The joint between the cannon and the long pastern 
bones. Also the lock of hair which grows behind this joint. 

Fever: Abnormally high temperature of the body. 

Fever, shipping: A general term applied to strangles, influenza, 
and contagious pneumonia occuring during or shortly after shipment. 

Fistula: A long narrow canal caused by diseased action. 

Flank: The soft part of the body which lies between the last 
rib and the point of the hip. It is bounded by the loins above and 
the belly below. 

Flatulent: Distended with gas. 

Forearm : The part of the foreleg between the elbow and the knee. 

Forehand: The part of the horse in front of the saddle or rider. 
It includes the head, neck, and fore limbs. 
" Forehead: The upper part of the face. 

Forelock: That part of the mane which hangs down over the face. 

Function: The power of acting. 

Fungus: A low form of vegetable life, as molds. 

Gaskin: The part of the leg situated between the thigh and the 
hock. 

Gastric: Pertaining to the stomach. 

Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach. 

Germ: Any microscopic form of life. 

Girth: The measure around the body at the chest. 

Granulations: Small fleshy masses formed in wounds. 

Hamstring: The great tendon which attaches itself to the point of 
the hock. 

Haunch: The point of the hip. 

Height of a horse: The distance from the ground to the highest 
point of the withers. 

Hemorrhage: Bleeding. 

Hock: The joint immediately below the gaskin. 

Hypodermic: Under the skin. 

Inaccessible: Out of the way. 

Inclement: Harsh, severe; as weather. 

Immunity: Security against any particular disease. 

Indolent: Inactive, causing little pain. 



180 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Infection: The communication of disease from one animal to 
another. 

Infectious: Liable to be communicated by infection. 

Interdental: Situated between the teeth. 

Intolerable: That which can not be endured. 

Itch: An irritation of the skin with a desire to scratch. 

Jugular: Pertaining to the neck. 

Jugular channel : The groove which is on either side of the neck 
ji-st above the windpipe. 

Knee: The joint between the forearm and the cannon. 

Lamina (laminae, plural): A thin, flat plate. 

Laminar: Pertaining to the laminae. 

Lateral: Pertaining to the side. 

Lesion: Any change in the part of the body resulting from disease 
or injury. 

Local : Restricted to one part. 

Lumbar: Pertaining to the loin. 

Massage: A stroking and kneading of the body. 

Maxilla: A jawbone. 

Maxillary: Pertaining to the jaws. 

Membrane: A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface. 

Microbe: A microscopic organism. 

Microscopic: Visible only by the aid of a microscope. 

Molar: Grinding; pertaining to the molar teeth. 

Mortality: The death rate. 

Muzzle: The lower part of the head, including the nostrils, lips, 
and chin. 

Navicular: Boat-shapped, shuttle-shaped. 

Nodules: Little lumps. 

Nonfebrile: Without fever. 

Nourish: To furnish material to sustain life 

Nucha: The back of the neck. 

Odor: Scent, smell. 

Ointment: A fatty medicinal preparation for external use. 

Opacity: That which is opaque. 

Opaque: Having no luster; dull; impervious to light, not trans- 
parent. 

Ophthalmia: Inflammation of the eye. 

Orbit: The bony socket which contains the eye. 

Organ: Any part of the body performing a definite function, as the 
liver, stomach, kidney, etc. 



MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 181 

Organism: An individual animal, plant, or germ. 

Ossification: The formation of bone. 

Oxygen: A gaseous element of the air. 

Parasite: A plant or animal which lives upon or within another 
plant or animal. 

Parotid region: The region below the ear and back of the jaw. 

Pastern: The region between the fetlock and the hoof. 

Phalanx: A bone of the foot. 

Phenol: Carbolic acid. 

Pigment: Any coloring matter of the body. 

Plantar: Pertaining to the sole of the foot. 

Poll: The top of the neck immediately behind the ears. 

Posterior: Situated behind or toward the rear. 

Process: A projecting point. 

Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs. 

Pungent: Sharp or biting. 

Pus: The creamy looking fluid resulting from suppuration. 

Putrefaction: Rot, decomposition. 

Pyramidal: Shaped like a pyramid. 

Rectal: Pertaining to the rectum. 

Retention; The keeping within the body of matter normally ex- 
creted. 

Rump: The hinder parts. 

Saliva: The fluid secreted by the glands in the mouth; spittle. 

Sand cracks: Same as quarter cracks. 

Scurf: Dandruff; a branny substance on the skin. 

Serum: The liquid part of the blood. 

Sheath: A double fold of skin which contains the penis. 

Shoulder : That part of the fore limb which occupies the side and 
front region of the chest. 

Sinus: A cavity or hollow space, as of bone. 

Skull: The bony framework of the head. 

Shipping fever : A general term applied to strangles, influenza, and 
contagious pneumonia occurring during or shortly after shipment. 

Slough: A mass of dead tissue in or cast out of the body. 

Solution: A liquid containing dissolved matter. 

Spine. A slender process of bone. 

Stifle: The joint between the hip and the hock. 

Streptococcus: A germ. 

Stupor: Partial or nearly complete unconsciousness. 

Suppuration: The formation and discharge of pus. 



182 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 

Susceptible: Capable of being infected or influenced. 

Suture: A surgical stitch or seam. 

System: A set of organs which unite in a common function. 

Swab : A small stick with a piece of cotton on the end ; used in 
applying medicine to wounds or sores. 

Temperament: Individual peculiarity of physical and mental con- 
stitution. 

Thoracic: Pertaining to the chest or thorax. 

Trachea: Windpipe. 

Tract: A region, principally one of some length, as the digestive 
tract. 

Transit: A journey from one place to another. 

Transmit: To transfer; to pass on to another. 

Transparent: Permitting the passage of the rays of light; clear. 

Trunk: The body considered apart from the head and limbs. 

Trypanosoma: A low form of animal life found in the blood of 
animals. It is the cause of surra and other similar diseases. 

Ulcer: An open sore other than a wound. 

Ulceration: The formation of an open sore. 

Underline: The lower boundary of the chest and belly. 

Vascular: Pertaining to or full of blood vessels. 

Venous : Pertaining to the veins. 

Vertebra (vertebrae, plural): Any one of the bones of the spinal 
column. 

Villus (villi, plural): A minute projection from the mucous mem- 
brane of the intestine. 

Vital: Essential to life ; necessary. 

Vitreous: Glasslike. 

Withers: The highest point between the shoulder blades. 



INDEX 



Paragraph. 

Abdominal aorta 76b 

Abdominal cavity 41 

Abrasions 365 

Abscess 372 

Absorbent cotton 346 

Acid, arsenious 284 

Acid, boracic 285 

Acid, boric 285 

Acid, carbolic 286 

Acid, salicylic 287 

Acid, tannic '. 288 

Actions and uses, medicines 258 

Acute glanders. 449 

Acute inflammation of the kidneys 424 

Acute keratitis 436 

Acute laminitis 451 

Acute lymphangitis 429 

Acute nasal catarrh 418 

Administration of medicines 244 

Administration of medicine by inhalation 246 

Administration of medicine by the mouth 245 

Administration of medicine hypodermically 249 

Administration of medicine into a vein 250 

Administration of medicine by the lungs 246 

Administration of medicine by the rectum 248 

Alcohol 289 

Aloes, barbadoes 290 

Alteratives 263 

Alum 291 

Ammonia, aromatic spirits 292 

Ammonia, aqua 293 

Ammonia, chloride of 294 

Anatomy 1 

183 



184 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Anesthetics 259 

Animals, injured 216, 217 

Animals, killing of 479 

Animals, destruction of 479 

Anodynes 261 

Anterio vena cava 77 

Antiseptic gauze 346 

Antiseptic powder 344 

Antiseptic tablets 322 

Antipyretics 271 

Antiseptics 258 

Antiseptics for wounds 354 

Antispasmodics 262 

Anus 35 

Aorta 76 

Aorta, abdominal 76b 

Aorta, thoracic 76a 

Aparejo, injuries by 367 

Appearances of health 123-130 

Appetite, loss of 203 

Approximate value, dry measure 257 

Approximate value, liquid measure 255 

Aqua ammonia 293 

Aqueous humor 96 

Air, composition of - 132 

Air cells 53 

Air, impure 132 

Air, pure 132 

Air, temperature of stable % 136 

Aromatic spirits of ammonia 292 

Arsenic 284 

Arsenate of potash 332 

Articulations 12 

Arteries 68 

Articular cartilage 12a 

Articulations of fore limb 19 

Articulations of hind limb 20 

Astringents 260 

Atrium, heart 67 

Azoturia 430 



INDEX. 185 

Paragraph. 

Back 121 

Backs, sore. 365, 366 

Balling 245b 

Ball, giving 245b 

Ball, physic 323 

Bandages 345 

Bandages for warmth 210 

Bandaging injured parts 220 

Barbadoes Aloes 290 

Barley 192 

Barley, characteristics of 193 

Barley, weight of 192 

Bars of foot 115a 

Bean 151 

Bedding 137-140 

Bedding, allowance of 140 

Bedding racks 140 

Bees, stings of 444 

Belladonna 295 

Bicarbonate of soda 339 

Bichloride of mercury 322, 470 

Biniodide of mercury 324 

Bites of snakes 445 

Bits, disinfection of 475 

Bladder , 61 

Bleached oats 182 

Blanketing 149 

Blankets 149 

Blankets, disinfection of 473 

Bleeding, how to stop 352 

Bleeding, nose 420 

Blindfold 232 

Blistering 280 

Blister, mercury 324 

Blister, mixed 407 

Blisters 280 

Blood 71, 72 

Blood, circulation of 75, 76 

Blood, color of 71-73 

Blood, purification of 75a 



186 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Body 121 

Bog spavin 404 

Boiling, in disinfection 469 

Boil, shoe 374 

Bolting feed 222 

Bone, breast 7 

Bone, coffin 110 

Bone, diseases of 388-391 

Bone, hip , 11 

Bone, irregular 3 

Bone, navicular Ill 

Bone, turbinated 50 

Bones, classification of 3 

Bones, covering of 3 

Bones, long 3 

Bones of the face 4b 

Bones of the fore limb 9 

Bones of the foot 109 

Bones of the hind limb 10 

Bones of limbs, fractures of 395 

Bones, short 3 

Boric acid 285 

Boracic acid 285 

Bowels, inflammation of 416 

Bow-legged : 122 

Brain 85 

Brain, concussion of 432 

Brain, congestion of - 431 

Brain, diseases of 431-433 

Bran 200 

Bran mashes 202 

Breast 121 

Breast bone 7 

Breathing in disease 205 

Breeding places of flies 483 

Bridles, disinfection of 472 

Broken wind 423 

Bronchi 53 

Bronchial tubes 53 

Bruises of the frog 452 



INDEX. 187 

Paragraph, 

Bruises of limbs : 369 

Bruises of sole 452 

Bruised wounds 350 

Bulbs of hoof 115c 

Burning carcases 480 

Burning the dead 480 

Burying carcases 481 

Burying the dead 481 

Burns 373 

Burns, rope 378 

Bursal enlargements 403-407 

Buttocks 122 

Caecum 33 

Calf-knee 120 

Calomel 323 

Camp, control of flies in 486 

Camphor 296 

Canker 453 

Cannabis americana 297 

Cannabis indica 297 

Cannon bone, fore 9 

Cannon bone, hind 10 

Cannons, fore 120 

Cannons, hind 122 

Cantharides 298 

Capillaries 69 

Capped elbow 374 

Capped hock 375 

Carbolic acid.' 286 

Carbolic acid for disinfection 470 

Carbonic acid gas 132 

Carcasses, burning 480 

Carcasses, burying 481 

Carcasses, disposal of, by burning 480 

Carcasses, disposal of, by burying 481 

Care of the feet 150 

Care of injured 216-221 

Care of sick 207-215 

Carminatives 264 



188 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Cartilage, articular .' 12a 

Cartilages, lateral 112 

Cartilages of foot 112 

Cartilages of the third phalanx 112 

Cars, railroad, disinfection of 478 

Castile soap 338 

Casting-rope 242a 

Cataract 438 

Catarrh, acute nasal •. 418 

Catarrh, chronic, nasal 419 

Catarrh, nasal, acute 418 

Catarrh, nasal, chronic 419 

Catarrhal fever 491 

Cathartics 273 

Caustics 265 

Caustic, lunar 321 

Cavity, abdominal 41 

Cavity, cranial 4a 

Cavity, nasal 4a 

Cavity, orbital 4a 

Cavity, pelvic 41 

Cavity, thoracic 55 

Cerebro-spinal nerves 85 

Cerebro-spinal system 84 

Cervical vertebrae 6a 

Chafes 365, 366 

Chains, curb, disinfection 475 

Charcoal 299 

Characteristics of corn 189 

Characteristics of barley 193 

Characteristics of bran 201 

Characteristics of hay 162 

Characteristics of oats 178 

Chemical agents in disinfection 470 

Chest 7 

Chest, medicine 349 

Chest, the 121 

Chill 134 

Chloride of ammonia 294 

Chloride of lime 319 



INDEX. 189 

Paragraph. 

Chloride of lime for disinfection 470 

Chloride of mercury, mild 323 

Chloroform 300 

Cholagogues 266= 

Chloro-naphtholeum 302 

Chloro-naphtholeum for disinfection 470 

Chyle 45,83 

Chyme 44 

Choke 411 

Choroid coat of eye 93: 

Chronic glanders 495 

Chronic indigestion 412 

Chronic nasal catarrh 419 

Circulation, systemic 75b 

Circulatory system 66 

Circulatory system, diseases 428 

Circulation of the blood 75, 76 

Circulation, pulmonary : 75a. 

Classification of lameness 381 

Cleaning the sheath 151 

Cleft of frog . _ . .' 115c 

Clipping 14S 

Clipped oats 180 

Clean the wound 355 

Clothing 209? 

Clothing, men's, disinfection 474 

Coat 105, 125 

Coat, shedding of 105 

Coccygeal vertebrae 6e 

Cold in the head 418 

Colic stall 208 

Colic, flatulent 414 

Colic, obstruction 415 

Colic, sand 415 

Colic, spasmodic 413 

Colic , wind 414 

Collodion 303 

Colon, great 33 

Colon, small 33 

Column, spinal 6 



190 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Column, vertebral 6 

Commissures, frog 115c 

Complete cracks, quarter 455 

Complete fractures 394 

Composition of air 132 

Compound fractures 394 

Compress 352 

Concussion of the brain 432 

Condition 227 

Conformation 119-122 

Congestion of the brain 431 

Conjunctiva 89 

Conjunctivitis 435 

Contagious diseases, definition 488 

Contagious stomatitis 489 

Contagious pneumonia 492, 206 

Control of animals 228-243 

Contracted feet •- 456 

Control of flies in garrison 484 

Control of flies in camp 486 

Constipation 415 

Contusions -- 365 

Cooling lotion 335 

Cord, spinal 85 

Corium, coronary 114b 

Corium, hoof 114 

Corium, frog 114e 

Corium, laminar 114c 

Corium, perioplic 114a 

Corium, sole 114d 

Corn 187 

Corn, allowance of 160 

Corn, characteristics of - . 189 

Corn, feeding of 188 

Corn, kafir 191 

Corn, ration of 160 

Corn, weight of 190 

Corns 454 

Corns, dry 454 

Corns, suppurating 454 



INDEX. 191 

Paragraph. 

Cornea 92 

Coronary corium 114b 

Coronary cracks 455 

Coronary groove 115a 

Coronary ring 114b 

Coronet, injuries of 463 

Corpuscles, red 73 

Corpuscles, white 74 

Corral, care of 141 

Corral, drainage of 141 

Corrosive sublimate . 322 

Corrosive sublimate tablets 322 

Cosmoline 304 

Cotton, absorbent 346 

Cow-hocked 122 

Cracks, complete, quarter 455 

Cracks, coronary 455 

Cracked heels 441 

Cracks, low, quarter 455 

Cracks of wall of hoof 455 

Cracks, quarter / 455 

Cracks, toe 455 

Cradle, neck 233 

Cranium 4a 

Creolin 301 

Creolin, for disinfection 470 

Cresol 320 

Cribbiting 226 

Croup 121 

Croup, bones of 11 

Cross-tying 235 

Crystalline lense 95 

Curb 401 

Curb chains, disinfection 475 

Cushion, digital 113 

Cushion, plantar 113 

Damp oats 183 

Dead animals, burning of 480 

Dead animals, burying of 481 

i 06233°— 17 13 



192 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Decayed teeth = 410 

Defecation 45, 129 

Defects in corn 189 

Delicate feeders 224 

Dermis 104 

Destruction of animals 479 

Detection of lameness 380 

Dhobie itch 440 

Defects in oats 179 

Diabetes insipidus 425 

Diaphragm 56 

Diarrhea .' 417 

Diaphragm , spasm of 434 

Digital cushion 113 

Digestive organs 28 

Digestive organs, function of 42 

Digestion, physiology 42-45 

Digitalis ' 305 

Diseases of the bladder 426 

Diseases of bone 338-391 

Diseases of blood and blood-producing organs 430 

Diseases of the brain 431-433 

Disease, navicular - 458 

Diseases of the circulatory system 428 

Diseases, contagious, definition. 488 

Diseases of the eye '. 435-439 

Diseases, indications of 203 

Diseases of the foot 451-463 

Diseases, infectious, definition 488 

Diseases of the kidneys 424. 426 

Diseases of the lungs. ..: 422, 423 

Diseases of the lymphatic system 429 

Diseases of the mouth 408 

Diseases of the nervous system 208. 431-434 

Diseases of the nose 418-420 

Diseases, parasitic, of skin 446-450 

Diseases, quarantinable 465 

Diseases of -the sheath and penis 427 

Diseases of the skin 440-450 

of the stomach and intestines 412-417 



INDEX. 193 

Paragraph. 

Diseases of the teeth 409 

Diseases of the throat ....'..-.". 421 

Diseases to be isolated 465 

Dish face 119 

Dislocations 392, 393 

Distemper 490 

Disinfectants 267 

Disinfection 467 

Disinfection, sunlight in 467 

Disinfection by boiling 469 

Disinfection, chemical agents in 470 

Disinfection by fire 469 

Disinfection, heat in 469 

Disinfection of bits 475 

Disinfection of blankets 473 

Disinfection of bridles 472 

Disinfection of curb chains 475 

Disinfection of equipment 472, 473, 475 

Disinfection of feed boxes 477 

Disinfection of grooming utensils 473 

Disinfection of harness. 472, 473, 475 

Disinfection of leather 472 

Disinfection of men's clothing , 474 

Disinfection of metal 475 

Disinfection of railroad cars 478 

Disinfection of saddles 472 

Disinfection of stables 471 

Disinfection of stable implements. 476 

Disinfection of watering troughs 477 

Dislocation of patella 392, 393 

Disposal of carcasses by burning 480 

Disposal of carcasses by burying 481 

Disposal of dead 480, 481 

Diuretics 269 

Dock 122 

Deodorants 268 

Draft and chill 134 

Drench, giving 245c 

Drenching 245c 

Drainage for wounds 356 



194 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Dressings . 346, 351 

Dressing wounds. 351-357 

Dropsy of the legs 428 

Dry feet 457 

Dry measure, approximate value 257 

Duct, thoracic 80 

Dusty hay 168 

Emmer 194 

Ear 97 

Ear, external 99 

Ear, internal 100 

Ears 119 

Eating, time required 159 

Elbow, capped 374 

Eczema 440 

Edema of the legs 428 

Elbow... 120 

Enteritis 416 

Epidermis 102 

Epiglotis 52 

Epistaxis 420 

Epizootic, lymphangitis 497 

Equipment, disinfection of 472, 473, 475 

Esophagus 30 

Ether, spirits of nitrous 306 

Ether, sulphuric 307 

Ewe-neck 119 

Examination for lameness 383 

Excessive granulations 362 

Excessive urination 425 

Exhaustion 156, 227| 

Expectorants 270 

Expiration 57 

External regions of horse 119-122 

Eye 88 

Eye, diseases of 435-^39 

Eyes 119 

Eyelids, wounds of 439 

Eyelids 89 

Eye lotion 295 



INDEX. 195 

Paragraph. 

Face ,... 119 

Farcy 496 

Feed boxes, clean 137 

Feed boxes, disinfection of 477 

Feeding 155 

Feed, bolting of 222 

Feeding corn 188 

Feeding oats 177 

Feeding delicate feeders 224 

Feeding grain 158 

Feeding hay 157 

Feeding idle horses 223 

Feeding injured animals ' 212 

Feeding sick animals 212 

Feeding thin horses 224 

Feeding tired horses 156 

Feet, care of 150 

Feet; contracted 456 

Feet, fore 120 

Feet, dry 457 

Feet, hind 122 

Febrifuges 271 

Female generative organs 65 

Fetlocks, fore . 120 

Fetlocks, hind 122 

Fetlock, sprain of 402 

Fever, catarrhal 491 

Fever, definition of. (See glossary.) 

Fever, mixture 306 

Fever, petechial ". 500 

Fever, shipping. (See glossary.) 

Field medicine chest 349 

Field , medicines for 349 

Fire, in disinfection 469 

Fistulous withers 376 

Flank 121 

Flatulent colic 414 

Flaxseed meal 199, 308 

Flesh, proud 362 

Flexor tendons, sprains of 399 



196 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Flies 482-487 

Flies, breeding places of 483 

Flies, control of, in camp 486 

Flies, in garrison 484 

Flies, external applications for protection against 487 

Flies, protection of animals against 487 

Flies on wounds 360 

Floors, brick 138 

Floors, cement 138 

Floors, dirt 139 

Floors, slippery 138 

Floors, stone 138 

Flour 197 

Fluid extract, mix vomica 325 

Fly gad 450 

Fly poison 485 

Fly, Spanish 298 

Fly traps '485 

Fly , warble 450 

Foot. . : 108* 

Foot, bones of 109, 110 

Foot, cartilages of 112 

Foot, composition of 108 

Forehead - 119 

Forage, allowance of 160, 172 

Forage, green 172 

Forearms 120 

Follicles, hair 105 

Forehand 120 

Foreign bodies in wounds 353 

Fore and hind legs secured 241 

Fore leg, securing 237 

Fore limb, articulations of. 19 

Fore limb , bones of 9 

Fore leg, lame in 384 

Fore legs, lame in 385 

Fore limb, joints of 19 

Formalin 309 

Formalin for disinfection. . .'. 470 

Founder 451 



INDEX. 197 

Paragraph. 

Fowler's solution 332 

Foxy oats 181 

Fractures , 394-396 

Fracture, bones of limbs 395 

Fractures, complete 394 

Fractures, compound 394 

Fractures, incomplete 394 

Fracture, lower jaw by bit 396 

Fracture, simple 394 

Frog 115c 

Frog, bruises of 452 

Frog, cleft 115c 

Frog, corium of 114e 

Frog, punctured wounds of 459 

Frog, sensitive 114e 

Frog, stay '. 115c 

Gadfly 450 

Galls 3G5, 366 

Galls, wind 406 

Garrison, control of fiies in 484 

Gastric juice 31 

Gaskin : 122 

Gauze, antiseptic 346 

Gentian 310 

Gentian, fluid extract of 311 

Gentian, powdered 310 

Ginger 312 

Glanders 493 

Glanders, acute 494 

Glanders, chronic 495 

Glanders, skin 496 

Glands, parotid •. 29 

Glands, peptic 31 

Glands, salivary - 29 

Glands, sebaceous 106 

Glands, submaxillary 29 

Glands, sublingual 29 

Glands, sweat 107 

Gleet, nasal 419 



198 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Glycerine 313 

Goose-rumped 122 

Grain, allowance of 160 

Grain, feeding of 158 

Grain, hay 170 

Grain, ration of 160 

Grains 174 

Granula iridis 93 

Granulations, excessive 362 

Grazing 173 

Grease 442 

Great colon 33 

Grooming 143 

Grooming idle horses 143 

Grooming injured animals 221 

Grooming sick horses. 214 

Grooming sweating horses 145 

Grooming utensils, disinfection of 473 

Grooming wet horses 144 

Groove , coronary 115a 

Grubs 450 

Gum camphor 296 

Gunshot wounds 350, 370 

Hair 105 

Hair follicles 105 

Halter pulling 225 

Hand rubbing 146 

Hard palate 29 

Harness, disinfection of 472, 473, 475 

Haunch 122 

Haw 90 

Hay 161 

Hay, allowance of 160 

Hay, badly cured 164 

Hay, caked in the bale 167 

Hay, characteristics of 162 

Hay, defects in 161 

Hay, dusty 168 

Hay, feeding of 157 



INDEX. 199 

Paragraph. 

Hay, grain 170 

Hay, moldy 169 

Hay, mow-burned 166 

Hay, musty 169 

Hay, overripe 165 

Hay, ration of 160 

Head 119 

Head, securing of 230 

Health, appearances of 123-130 

Heart 67 

Heart, contraction of 78 

Heart, septum 67 

Heat stroke 433 

Heat, in disinfection 469 

Heaves 423 

Heels 115a 

Heels, injuries of 463 

Hemorrhage 352 

Herpes 448 

Herring-gutted 121 

Hind limb, .articulations cf 20 

Hind limb, bones of 10 

Hind limb, joints of 20 

Hind leg, lame in 386 

Hind leg, securing 238, 239, 240 

Hind legs, lame in 387 

Hind quarters 121 

Hip bone 11 

Hip, point of- 122 

Hocks 122 

Hock, capped. 375 

Hock, sprain of 402 

Hornets, stings of 444 

Horses, blanketing of 149 

Horses, clipping 148 

Horses, external regions 119 

Horse, points of 119 

Horse in slings 243 

Horses, sweating 145 

Horses that bolt their feed 222 



200 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Horses, washing of 147 

Horses, wet, care of 144 

Hoof : H5a 

Hoof, bulbs of 115c 

Hoof, corium of 114 

Hoof, cracks of 455 

Hoof, oil on 457 

Hoof, parts of 115c 

Hoof, surfaces of 115c 

Hoof, wall of 115a 

Humor, aqueous 96 

Humor, vitreous 96 

Hygiene, stable 131-202 

Idle horses, feeding of 223 

Implements, stable, disinfection of - 476 

Inability to urinate 426 

Incised wounds 350 

Incomplete fractures 394 

Indications of disease 203-206 

Indigestion, chronic 412 

Infectious diseases, definition 488 

Infectious pneumonia 492 

Inflammation 379 

Inflammation of the bowels 416 

Inflammation of conjunctiva 435 

Inflammation of intestines 416 

Inflammation of kidneys, acute 424 

Inflammation of the lungs 422 

Inflammation of the mouth, contagious 489 

Inflammation of the skin 440-442 

Influenza 206, 491 

Inhalations 329 

Inhalations, giving 246 

Injuries, aparejo 367 

Injuries to the coronet 463 

Injuries to the mouth 408 

Injuries to the heels 463 

Injuries, pack saddle 367 

Injured animals 216, 217 



INDEX. 201 

Paragraph. 

Injured animals, care of 216-221 

Injured animals, feeding of 221 

Injured animals, grooming. - - - -, 221 

Injured animals, restraint. 219 

Injured animals, watering 221 

Injury, lower jaw, by bit 396 

Insalivation 43 

Inspiration 57 

Instruments for dressing wounds 351 

Interdental space 5c 

Intestines, diseases of 412-417 

Intestines, inflammation of 416 

Intestine, large ' 33 

Intestine, mucous membrane 34 

Intestine, small 32 

Iodide of mercury 324 

Iodine crystals. : 314 

Iodine, solution of 314 

Iodine, tincture of 314 

Iodoform 315 

Ms. 93 

Iron, sulphate of 317 

Iron, tincture of chloride . 316 

Irregular wearing of teeth 409 

Isolated, animals to be 4G5 

Isolation 464 

Itch, dhobie 440 

Jaw, lower, injury of 396 

Jaw, lower 4b, 119 

Jaw, overshot 409 

Jaw, undershot 409 

Jaw, upper 4b 

Joint, capsule of 13 

Joint, open 364 

Joint, oil 13 

Joints, fore limb 19 

Joints, hind limb 20 

Joints, movable 12a 

Joints, types of 12 

Jugular channel 119 

Jugular vein 70 



202 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Keratitis 436 

Kidneys 59 

Kidneys, diseases of 424-426 

Kidneys, inflammation of 424 

Killing animals 479 

Knee 120 

Knee-sprung 120 

Kreso " 302 

Kreso for disinfection 470 

Lacerated wounds 350 

Lame in both fore legs 385 

Lame in one fore leg 383 

Lame in both hind legs 387 

Lame in one hind leg. 386 

Lameness 380 

Lameness, classification of 381 

Lameness, detection of 380 

Lameness, examination for 383 

Lameness, severe 382 

Lameness, supporting leg 381b 

Lameness, swinging leg 381a 

Laminae, horny 115a 

Laminae, sensitive 114c 

Laminitis 335, 451 

Laminitis, acute 335, 451 

Large intestine 33 

Laryngitis m 421 

Laryngitis and pharyngitis 421 

Larynx 52 

Laudanum 330 

Laxatives 272 

Lead, acetate of 318 

Lead, sugar of 318 

Leather, disinfection of 472 

Legs, dropsy of 428 

Legs, edema of 428 

Legs, filled 428 

Legs, fore 120 

Legs, stocking of 428 



INDEX. 203 

Paragraph. 

Lens, crystalline : — 95 

Lice . . 446 

Limbs 2 

Limbs, bruises of 369 

Limbs, fractures of 395 

Ligaments, binding 15 

Ligament, neck 17 

Ligament, plantar 18 

Ligament, plantar, sprain of 401 

Ligament, suspensory 16 

Ligament, suspensory, sprain 400 

Ligaments 12 

Ligamentum, nuchae 17 

Lime, chloride of 319 

Lime, chloride of, for disinfection 470 

Lino, picket 141 

Line, side 237b 

Liniment, soap 296 

Linseed meal . 199, 308 

Linseed oil 327 

Lips : 29, 119 

Liquid measure 252 

Liquid measure, approximate value of 255 

Liquor cresolis 320 

Liquor cresolis, for disinfection 470 

Liver 38 

Lockjaw 498 

Loins 121 

Loss of appetite 203 

Lotion, cooling 335 

Lotion, eye : 295 

Lotion, white 318 

Low cracks, quarter 455 

Lower jaw 119 

Lower jaw, fracture by bit 396 

Lugol's solution 314 

Lumbar vertebrae : 6c 

Lunar caustic 321 

Lungs 54 

Lungs, capacity of .- 57 



204 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Lungs, diseases of 422, 423 

Lungs, inflammation of 422 

Lymphatic system, diseases of : 429 

Lymphangitis, acute 429 

Lymphantitis, epizootic 497 

Lymph 82 

Lymph glands 81 

Lymph vessels 80 

Lymphatic system 79 

Lymphatic vessel, right 80 

Maceration 44 

Maggots in penis 427 

Maggots in sheath 151, 427 

Maggots in wounds 361 

Male generative organs : '. 64 

Mane 119 

Mandible 4b 

Mange 340, 447 

Mangers, to be kept clean 137 

Manner of standing 123 

Manure I 137 

Mashes, bran 202 

Mastication 43 

Maxilla 4b-4c 

Meal, flaxseed 199, 308 

Meal, linseed 199, 308 

Measure, liquid 252 

Measure, dry 257 

Medicines 283-344 

Medicine chest 349 

Medicines, administration 244 

Medicines, administration, hypodermically 249 

Medicines, administration by the lungs 246 

Medicines, administration by the mouth 245 

Medicines, administration by the rectum. 248 

Medicines, administration by the skin 247 

Medicines, administration into a vein 250 

Medicines for field 349 

Membrana, nictitans 90 

Membrane, serous 48 



INDEX. 20& 

Paragraph. 

Membrane, synovial 27, IS 

Men's clothing, disinfection of 474 

Mercury blister 324 

Mercury, bichloride of 322 

Mercury, bichloride of, for disinfection. . 470 

Mercury, biniodide of 324 

Mercury, mild chloride of 323 

Mercury, red iodide of 324 

Mesentery 36 

Metal, disinfection of 475 

Metric measures . . 256 

Mild chloride of mercury 323 

Milo maize 191 

Mixed blister 407 

Mixture, fever 306 

Mixtures 254 

Mouldv oats 186 

Mouldy hay 169 

Mow burned hay 166 

Mouth 29 

Mouth, contagious inflammation of 489 

Mouth, diseases of 408 

Mouth, injuries to 408 

Mouth, parrot 409 

Mucous membrane 47 

Mucous membrane of intestines 34 

Muscles, sprain of 398 

Muscles 21 

Muscles, composition of - . . _ 22 

Muscles, extensors 24 

Muscles, fore limb 25 

Muscles, flexors. 24 

Muscles, hind limb 26 

Muscles, involuntary 21 

Muscles, long 23 

Muscles, short 23 

Muscles, voluntary 21 

Muscles, wide 23 

Musty hay 169 

Musty oats 185 

Muzzles 119, 236 



206 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Nail wounds 459, 329 

Nasal catarrh, acute 418 

Nasal catarrh, chronic 419 

Nasal cavity 4a 

Nasal chambers 50 

Nasal gleet 419 

Nasal septum 50 

Navicular disease 458 

Neck 119 

Neck cradle 233 

Neck ligament 17 

Nephritis 424 

Nerve 87 

Nerve ganglia 86 

Nerve, optic 94 

Nerves, cerebrospinal 85 

Nervous system 84 

Nervous system, diseases of 431-434 

Nettle rash 443 

New horses 136 

Nitrate of potash 335 

Nitrogen 132 

Nose, bleeding of 420 

Nose, diseases of 418-420 

Nostrils 49-119 

Nursing 207 

Nux vomica, fluid extract 325 

Nux vomica, powdered 326 

Oakum 346 

Obstruction, colic 415 

Oats 175 

Oats, allowance of 160 

Oats, bleached. 182 

Oats, characteristics of 178 

Oats, clipped 180 

Oats, damp 183 

Oats, defect in 179 

Oats, feeding of 177 

Oats, foxy 181 



INDEX. 207 

Paragraph. 

Oats, moldy 186 

Oats, musty 185 

Oats, ration of 160 

Oats, sprouting 184 

Oats, weight of 176 

Oil, hoof 457 

Oil, joint 13 

Oil, linseed 327 

Oil meal 199,308 

Oil, turpentine 329 

Ointment, hoof 457 

Ointment for skin disease 301 

Open bursa . 364 

Open joint 364 

Ophthalmia, periodic 437 

Ophthalmia, recurrent 437 

Opium, powdered 331 

Opium, tincture of 330 

Optic nerve 94 

Orbital cavity 4a 

Organs, digestive 28 

Organs, female, generative 65 

Organs, male, generative 64 

Os coxae 11 

Over in the knees 120 

Over-ripe hay 165 

Over-shot jaw 409 

Oxide of zinc 344 

Oxygen 132 

Packs 347 

Palate, hard 29 

Palate, soft 29 

Pack saddle, injuries 367 

Pancreas 39 

Pancreatic fluid 39 

Parasitic diseases of the skin 446-450 

Parasiticides 274 

Parotid glands 29 

Parotid region 119 

106233°— 17 14 



208 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Parot mouth 409 

Pasterns, fore 120 

Pasterns, hind 122 

Pasterns, sprains of 402 

Patella, dislocation of 393 

Pelvic cavity 41 

Penis, diseases of 427 

Penis, screw worms in 427 

Penis, maggots in 427 

Peptic glands 31 

Pericardium 67 

Periodic ophthalmia : 437 

Periople • 115a 

Perioplic corium 114a 

Perioplic ring 114a 

Periosteum 2 

Peritoneum 36 

Permanganate of potash 336 

Petechial fever 500 

Petrolatum 304 

Pharynx 51 

Pharyngitis 421 

Phenol. ■ 286 

Physic ball 323 

Physiolotrv 1 

Picket line 141 

Picket line floor 141 

Pinkeye 491 

Plantar cushion u 113 

Plantar ligament 18 

Plantar ligament, sprain of 401 

Pleurae 55 

Pleuropneumonia 492 

Pneumonia 422 

Pneumonia, contagious 492 

Pneumonia, infectious 492 

Point of the hip 122 

Points of the horse 119 

Poison, fly 485 

Poll 119 



INDEX. 209 

Paragraph. 

Poll-evil 377 

Posterior vena cava 77b 

Potassium, arsenate of : 332 

Potassium, bromide of 333 

Potassium, iodide of 334 

Potassium, nitrate of 335 

Potassium, permanganate of 336 

Poultices 348 

Premaxilla 4b 

Prehension 29, 43 

Pricking, direct 459 

Pricking, indirect 459 

Pricks in shoeing 459 

Protection of animals against flies 487 

Proud flesh 362, 321 

Pulling, halter 225 

Pulmonary circulation 75b 

Pulse 78, 126 

Pulse in disease 204 

Pulse, method of taking 126 

Punctured wounds . 350 

Punctured wounds of frog 459 

Punctured wounds of joints 364 

Punctured wounds of tendon sheaths 364 

Punctured wounds of sole 459 

Pupil 93 

Purgatives 273 

Purpura 500 

Purpura, hemorrhagica 500 

Quarantinahle diseases 465 

Quarantine * 466 

Quarter cracks 455 

Quarters 115a 

Quinine, sulphate of 337 

Quittor . . . . 460 

Ration, forage 160 

Ration, grain 168 

Ration, ha}' 160 



210 - INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Rectum 30 

Recurrent ophthalmia 433 

Red corpuscles 77 

Regions, external 119-123 

Respiration 57, 122 

Respiration, method of counting 127 

Respiratory organs 47 

Respiratory system 46 

Rest. 216 

Rest in wounds 358 

Restraint and control 228-248 

Restraint, injured animals 213 

Restraint, kinds of 229 

Restraint, object 228 

Restraint, in wounds 358 

Retention of urine 426 

Retina 94 

Ribs 8, 121 

Ribs, asternal 8 

Ribs, false. 8 

Ribs, sternal 8 

Ribs, true 8 

Rice - 198 

Ringbone 388 

Ringworms : 448 I 

Roach-back 121,366 

Roman nose 119 I 

Roof ventilators 135 I 

Rope burns 378 | 

Rope, casting 242a | 

Rope, throwing 242a 1 

Railroad cars, disinfection of 478 

Rubbing, hand 146 

Rye 195 

Sacral, vertebrae 6d I 

Sacrum 6d j 

Sacs, serous 371 j 

Saddles, disinfection of 472 j 

Saddle, sores 365-366 



INDEX. 211 

Paragraph. 

Saliva 43 

Salivary glands 29 

Salt 152 

Salt, allowance of 152 

Salting 152 

Saltpeter 335 

Scabies 447 

Scalds 373 

Sclerotic coat of eye 92 

Scratches 441 

Screw worms in penis 427 

Screw worms in sheath 427 

Screw worms in wounds 361 

Sebaceous glands 106 

Securing of fore leg 237 

Securing fore and hind legs 241 

Securing a hind leg backward 240 

Securing a hind leg forward 238, 239 

Securing the head 230 

Sedatives 278 

Seedy toe 461 

Sensitive frog *. 114d 

Sensitive laminae 114c 

Sensitive sole 114d 

Septum, heart 67 

Septum, nasal 50 

Seriously injured animals 216 

Serous membrane 48 

Serous, sacs 371 

Serum 72 

Severe lameness 382 

Sharp teeth 409 

Sheath, cleaning of 151 

Sheath, diseases of 427 

Sheath, screw worms in 427 

Sheath, maggots in 157, 427 

Shipping fever. (See Glossary.) 

Shoe boil 374 

Shoeing, pricks in 459 

Shoes, removal of 211 



212 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Shoulders 120 

Shoulders, sore 368 

Sick, care of 207-215 

Sick, feeding of 212 

Sick, grooming of 214 

Sick, watering of 213 

Sick stall 208 

Sickle, hocked 122 

Side bone 389 

Side line 237b 

Side rod 234 

Silver, nitrate of 321 

Simple fractures 394 

Sinuses, maxillary 4c 

Sitfast 366 

Skeleton 1, 2 

Skin 101, 124 

Skin, diseases, treatment 341 

Skin, inflammation of 440, 441 

Skin, parasitic diseases of 446-450 

Skin, true 102 

Skull * 4 

Slightly injured animals 217 

Slinging the horse 243 

Slings : * 243 

Small colon 33 

Small intestine 32 

Snake bites 445 

Saturated solution - 253a 

Soap, castile 338 

Soap liniment 296 

Sodium, bicarbonate of 339 

Soft palate '. 29 

Sole 115b 

Sole, bruises of * 452 

Sole, corium of 114 

Sole, punctured wounds of 459 

Sole, sensitive 114d 

Soot balls 93 

Solution of ammonia 293 



INDEX. 213 

Paragraph. 

Solution of cresol , 320 

Solution of iodine ; 314 

Solution, Lugol's 314 ; 

Solution, saturated 253a 

Solutions 253 

Solutions, how to make 253b 

Sore backs 365-366 

Sore backs, causes 366 

Sore backs, prevention 366 

Sore backs, symptoms of 366" 

Sore backs, treatment of 366' 

Sore shoulders 368 

Sore throat 421 

Sores, saddle 365, 366 

Spanish fly 298 

Spasm of the diaphragm 434 

Spasmodic colic 413 

Spavin .* 390 

Spavin, bone 390 

Spavin, bog 404 

Speltz 194 

Spinal canal 6f 

Spinal column 6 

Spinal cord 85 

Spirits nitrous ether 306 

Splay footed 120 

Spleen 40 

Splints 391 

Sprain of fetlock 402 

Sprains of flexor tendons 399 

Sprain of hock ^ 402 

Sprains of muscles 398 

Sprain of pastern 402 

Sprain of plantar ligament 401 

Sprain of suspensory ligament 400 

Sprains 397-407 

Sprains, treatment of 407 

Sprouting oats 184 

Stable air * 136 

Stables, cold 136 



214 INDEX. 



Stables, disinfection of 471 

Stables, hot 136 

Stable hygiene 131-202 

Stable implements, disinfection of 476 

Stalls, care of 137 

Stalls, cleaning 137, 138 

Stalls, sick 208 

Standing, manner of 123 

Sternum 7 

Stifles _ 122 

Stimulants 277 

Stings of bees 444 

Stings of hornets 444 

Stings of wasps 444 

Stocking of legs 428 

Stomach 31 

Stomach, capacity of 31 

Stomach, diseases of 412-417 

Stomachics 275 

Stomatitis, contagious 489 

Strangles 490 

Straw 171 

Styptics 276 

Sublingual glands 29 

Submaxillary glands '.... 29 

Sulphate of iron 317 

Sulphate of zinc 343 

Sulphur 340 

Sulphured oats 182 

Sulphuric ether 307 

Sunlight in disinfection * 468 

Sunstroke 433 

Supporting leg lameness 381b 

Suppuration 372 

Surra 206,499 

Suspensory ligament 16 

Suspensory ligament, sprain of 400 

Sutures % 355 

Suturing wounds " 355 

Sway-back 121,366 



INDEX. 215 

Paragraph. 

Sweat 107 

Sweat glands 107 

Sweating horses, care of 145 

Sweet spirits of niter 306 

Swinging-leg lameness 381a 

Sympathetic system 84-86 

Synovia - 13 

Synovial bursae 27 

Synovial enlargements 403 

Synovial membranes 13, 27 

Synovial sheaths. . 27 

System, cerebrospinal 84, 85 

System, circulatory 66 

System, digestive 28 

System, lymphatic 1 79 

System, nervous 84 

System, nervous, diseases of 431-434 

System, respiratory 46 

System, sympathetic 84-86 

System, urogenital 58 

Tail 122 

Tannin 288 

Tar, pine 341 

Teeth, canine 5b 

Teeth, cheek — 5c 

Teeth, classification of 5 

Teeth, decayed 410 

Teeth, diseases of 409 

Teeth, incisor 5a 

Teeth, irregular wearing of 409 

Teeth, molar 5c 

Teeth, sharp 409 

Temperature, body 128 

Temperature, body, method of taking 128 

Temperature in disease 206 

Temperature of stable air 136 

Tendons r 22 

Tendons, sprains of 399 

Testing the ventilation 133 



216 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Tetanus 208, 333, 498 

Ticks 449 

Tied in 120 

Time required for eating 159 

Tincture, chloride of iron 316 

Tincture of iodine 314 

Thighs 122 

Thin horses, feeding of 224 

Thoracic aorta 76a 

Thoracic cavity 55 

Thoracic duct 80 

Thoracic vertebrae 6b 

Thorax ' 7 

Thoroughpin 405 

Throat.". 119 

Throat, diseases of 421 

Throat, diseases of, choke 411 

Throat, sore 421 

Throwing a horse down 242 

Throwing rope 242b 

Thrush 323,462 

Thumps 434 

Toe 115a 

Toe cracks 455 

Toe-out 120 

Toe, seedy 461 

Tongue 29 

Tonics 279 

Tonic powder 412 

Trachea 53 

Traps, fly 485 

Treads 463 

Treatment of sprains 407 

Treatment of wounds 352-361 

Troughs, watering 142 

Troughs, watering, disinfection of 477 

Trunk 2 

Tubes, bronchial , 53 

Turbinated bones 50 

Turpentine - 329 



INDEX. 217 

Paragraph. 

Tympanum 100 

Trypanosoma evansi 499 

Twitch 231 

Underline 121 

Undershot jaw 409 

Ureters 60 

Urethra 62 

Urinary organs 58 

Urinary system 58 

Urination 63, 130 

Urination, excessive 425 

Urine 63 

Urine, retention of 426 

Urticaria 443 

Utensils, to be kept clean — 215 

Utensils, grooming, disinfection of 473 

Vaseline 304 

Vein, jugular 70 

Veins 70 

Vena cava, anterior 77a 

Vena cava, posterior 77b 

Ventilation 131 

Ventilation, testing 133-136 

Ventilators, window 135 

Ventilators, roof 135 

Ventricles, heart 67 

Vermifuges 282 

Vermisides 281, 329 

Vertebrae, cervical 6a 

Vertebrae, coccygeal 6e 

Vertebrae, lumbar 6c 

Vertebrae, sacral 6d 

Vertebrae, thoracic 6b 

Vertebral column 6 

Vesicants 280 

Villi 34 

Wall, cracks of 455 

Wall, hoof 115a 



218 INDEX. 

Paragraph. 

Warbles 450 

Warble fly 450 

Wasps, stings of 444 

Water 153 

Water, amount required 153 

Watering 154 

Watering injured animals 213 

Watering sick animals 213 

Watering troughs 142 

Watering troughs, disinfection of 477 

Weight of oats 176 

Weights, table of 251 

Wet horses, care of 144 

Wheat 196 

WTiite corpuscles. , 74 

White corpuscles, formation 81 

White line 115a 

White lotion 318 

Wind-broken 423 

Wind colic 414 

Windgalls '. 406 

Wind puffs 406 

Windsucking 226 

Windows 135, 136 

Witch-hazel 342 

Withers, fistulous 376 

Withers, framework of 6b 

Withers, injuries of 366 

Withers, conformation of 120 

Worms, intestinal 412 

Wounds 350 

Wounds, after care of 359 

Wounds, antiseptics for 354 

Wounds, bruised 350, 365 

Wounds, bleeding 352 

Wounds, classification of 350 

Wounds, drainage of 356 

Wounds, dressing 351, 357 

Wounds, flies on 360 

Wounds, foreign bodies in 353 



INDEX. 219 

Paragraph. 

Wounds, gunshot 350, 370 

Wounds, how to clean 353 

Wounds, how to close 355 

Wounds, incised 350, 363 

Wounds, instruments for dressing 351 

Wounds, lacerated 350, 363 

Wounds, maggots in 361 

Wounds, nail 329, 459 

Wounds of the coronet 463 

Wounds of the eyelids 439 

Wounds of the frog 459 

Wounds of the heel 463 

Wounds of the sole 459 

Wounds, punctured 350, 363, 364 

Wounds, punctured, of joints 364 

Wounds, punctured, of tendon sheaths 364 

Wounds, screw worms in 361 

Wounds, suturing 355 

Wounds, tread 463 

Wounds, treatment of # 352-371 

Zinc, oxide of 344 

Zinc oxide ointment 344 

Zinc, sulphate of 343 



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